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Materials Engineering at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,265/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (37,000 openings/yr)
ROI 19.0x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #22 of 33 Materials Engineering programs

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 $789K $758K $668K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.7x 19.0x 16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.9x 6.6x 5.8x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,780
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,111
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $78,265/yr, edging above the $71,341 national average for Materials Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.0x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

At $22,111 in median debt against $78,265 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #22 of 33 Materials Engineering programs, Purdue University-Main Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

With a 50% acceptance rate, Purdue University-Main Campus is moderately selective, serving a student body of 39,637 in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue 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

Compare this program → View all 33 schools offering Materials Engineering →

Materials Engineering at Other Schools

University of Florida ($79,200) Drexel University ($78,623) Michigan State University ($78,276) Arizona State University Campus Immersion ($77,646) University of Wisconsin-Madison ($76,662) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($76,488) University of Connecticut ($75,607) University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus ($75,607)

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Computer Science ($94,786) Computer Engineering ($89,965) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,300) Industrial Engineering ($81,379) Chemical Engineering ($81,105) Mechanical Engineering ($80,374) Construction Engineering ($76,966) Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($75,913)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Materials Engineering at Purdue University-Main Campus?
This program scores 61/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Materials Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $668,467 in decade earnings vs $789,021 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →