Materials Engineering at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State's Materials Engineering program posts earnings below the national median but performs reasonably well within Ohio, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. Starting graduates earn $70,371—about $4,000 less than the national average for this major—though earnings climb to nearly $80,000 by year four. This represents solid growth, but the program never quite catches up to where competitors' graduates start. The relatively low debt load of $19,500 helps offset the earnings gap, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 that's actually quite manageable.

The tricky reality here is program scarcity: with only three Ohio schools offering Materials Engineering, your in-state options are limited if this is your child's chosen field. The lower debt compared to national peers ($19,500 vs. $23,250 nationally) gives graduates breathing room, and the 13% earnings growth suggests reasonable career progression. However, ranking in just the 37th percentile nationally signals that stronger programs exist elsewhere for students who can afford out-of-state tuition or want to maximize starting salary.

For Ohio residents committed to Materials Engineering, this program offers a practical path with manageable debt. But if your student is highly competitive (Ohio State's 1407 average SAT suggests selective admission) and open to other states, exploring higher-ranked programs could yield better long-term returns despite potentially higher upfront costs.