Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $66,927 track close to the $71,341 national median for Materials Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The financial case is thin at 3.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
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 $23,250 in median debt against $66,927 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #30 of 33 Materials Engineering programs, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $66,927 to $84,117 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.