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Materials Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $65,919/yr (-8% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (37,000 openings/yr)

ROI 3.6x earnings multiple

Ranked #27 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	$918K	$873K	$755K
Earnings Multiple	3.8x	3.6x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	66%	49%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$240,624

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$79,252

67% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$98,069

49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $65,919/yr, roughly in line with the $71,341 national median for Materials Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.6x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #27 of 33 Materials Engineering programs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $65,919 to $98,069 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 5% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, a smaller institution with 4,571 students in Cambridge, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $79,252 — 67% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology →

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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Materials Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Materials Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $754,816 in decade earnings vs $917,819 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Massachusetts Institute of Technology a hidden gem for Materials Engineering?

After financial aid, the average student pays $79,252 over four years — 67% below the $240,624 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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