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Materials Engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,498/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (37,000 openings/yr)
ROI 21.9x earnings multiple (8.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #3 of 33 Materials Engineering programs Top 10%

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 $806K $773K $680K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.8x 21.9x 19.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.2x 8.8x 7.8x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,328
Out-of-state: $87,456 (8.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,908
-101% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$88,034
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Alabama at Birmingham's Materials Engineering program produces graduates earning $69,498/yr — within striking distance of the $71,341 national average for this field.

The 21.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

A #3 ranking out of 33 Materials Engineering programs nationally puts University of Alabama at Birmingham in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $69,498 to $88,034 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Alabama at Birmingham

A 88% acceptance rate means University of Alabama at Birmingham is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 12,118 in Birmingham, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham →

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) Purdue University-Main Campus ($78,265) 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)

Other Majors at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($76,151) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($69,633) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,173) Civil Engineering ($62,283) Mechanical Engineering ($58,191) Management Information Systems and Services ($57,778) Accounting and Related Services ($51,640) Finance and Financial Management Services ($50,939)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Alabama at Birmingham's Materials Engineering program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Alabama at Birmingham's Materials Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Materials Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Materials Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →