Materials Engineering at University of California-Riverside

Based on comparable materials engineering programs in California, UC Riverside's estimated outcomes suggest solid early returns: first-year earnings around $74,000 against roughly $17,000 in debt yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23. That's a manageable number—graduates would need less than three months of their first year's salary to cover their total borrowing. The estimated debt figure also sits well below the national median of $23,250 for this major, reflecting California's robust public university system and UC Riverside's commitment to access (47% of students receive Pell grants).

The earnings estimate aligns with other UC materials engineering programs like Davis, which reports $74,110, and exceeds UC Irvine's $58,177. Cal Poly SLO edges slightly higher at $74,496, but we're talking about differences that could disappear in individual circumstances. Materials engineering consistently delivers strong early-career outcomes nationwide, and California's aerospace, semiconductor, and clean energy sectors provide natural landing spots for graduates.

The caveat here is real: these figures come from only three California programs because UC Riverside's own graduate cohort was too small to report separately. But the peer comparison is reasonable, the debt burden appears light, and materials engineering as a field has proven resilient. For families concerned about employability and return on investment, this program fits the profile of a solid STEM bet—just understand you're working with approximations rather than this campus's specific track record.