Materials Engineering at Michigan State University

Michigan State's Materials Engineering graduates start at $78,276—strong by national standards (95th percentile) but middle-of-the-pack in Michigan, where only three schools compete in this specialty. With just $27,925 in median debt, the 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly four months of their starting salary, making this financially manageable from day one. The earnings trajectory looks healthy too, climbing to $87,537 by year four, suggesting these graduates are gaining traction in their careers.

The catch: Michigan State's Materials Engineering cohort is tiny (under 30 graduates), which makes these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs. When sample sizes are this small, a few outliers can dramatically skew the medians. That said, the program's solid fundamentals—low debt combined with above-average earnings—align with what you'd expect from a respected state engineering program.

For an anxious parent, the key question is whether your child is genuinely interested in materials science specifically. This isn't a general engineering degree; it's a specialized field focused on metals, polymers, and composites. If your student wants that specialization and can get in-state tuition at MSU, the numbers work. But given the small cohort size, try to connect with recent graduates directly to understand job placement patterns before committing.