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Materials Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,175/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (37,000 openings/yr)
ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #26 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 $713K $690K $617K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.8x 17.2x 15.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.1x 7.8x 7.0x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,080
Out-of-state: $88,080 (7.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,708
-61% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $69,175/yr, roughly in line with the $71,341 national median for Materials Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 17.2x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #26 out of 33 programs, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's financial outcomes for Materials Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 16,762 students in Milwaukee, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee →

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 Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Computer Engineering ($76,982) Computer Science ($73,795) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($73,603) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($70,900) Mechanical Engineering ($70,474) Industrial Engineering ($68,673) Civil Engineering ($64,317) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($62,966)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Materials Engineering program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee trails the majority of Materials Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 →