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Materials Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $66,888/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (37,000 openings/yr)

ROI 13.0x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #13 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	$839K	$803K	$702K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.6x	13.0x	11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.7x	5.5x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	66%	49%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	66	65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$61,912

Out-of-state: $146,776 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,160

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$90,734

36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $66,888 track close to the $71,341 national median for Materials Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.0x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

At $27,000 in median debt against $66,888 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #13 of 33 Materials Engineering programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $66,888 to $90,734 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

With a 57% acceptance rate, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is moderately selective, with 30,435 students enrolled in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Materials Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

A score of 66/100 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 $701,920 in decade earnings vs $838,922 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →