Materials Engineering at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,371/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (37,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.7x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 of 33 Materials Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Materials Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $843K $806K $705K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.4x 15.7x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.3x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,436
Out-of-state: $153,460 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,168
-42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$92,120
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $70,371/yr, Materials Engineering graduates from Ohio State University-Main Campus land near the $71,341 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Materials Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Materials Engineering's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 16% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #11 of 33 Materials Engineering programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $70,371 to $92,120 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State University-Main Campus accepts 51% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 44,617 students in Columbus, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Ohio State University-Main Campus →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Materials engineers $108,310/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Materials Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Materials Engineering at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Materials Engineering field.
Will AI replace Materials Engineering careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $704,527 in decade earnings vs $842,813 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →