Program Analysis
Graduates earn $72,944/yr, roughly in line with the $71,341 national median for Materials Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.3x 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 14% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $72,944 far exceeding the $22,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #10 of 33 Materials Engineering programs, Winona State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $83,187 are relatively flat compared to the $72,944 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.