Materials Engineering at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Michigan graduates Materials Engineers earning $75,041 in their first year—solid but unremarkable for a program at this selective level. The university ranks in the 60th percentile among Michigan's three Materials Engineering programs, notably trailing Michigan State's $78,276 starting salary. Nationally, the program sits squarely in the middle pack at the 66th percentile, barely above the national median of $74,110. Given Michigan's 18% admission rate and average SAT of 1473, families might reasonably expect stronger initial earnings from such a competitive institution.

The financial picture improves considerably when examining debt. At $17,750, graduates carry significantly less burden than typical Materials Engineering students—roughly $5,500 below the state median and $5,500 below the national median. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.24, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of gross salary. Four-year earnings of $84,790 show healthy 13% growth, suggesting career trajectories remain positive even if starting points are modest.

For families paying in-state tuition, this remains a fundamentally sound investment—the debt load is manageable and the engineering degree provides clear value. However, out-of-state families should carefully weigh whether Michigan's premium tuition justifies middle-of-the-pack outcomes when comparable programs elsewhere might deliver similar earnings at lower cost.