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Materials scientist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a materials scientist. Materials scientists usually study chemistry, materials science and engineering, or chemical engineering. 59% of materials scientists hold a bachelor's degree, and 24% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 360 real materials scientist resumes to see exactly what materials scientist education sections show.
The most common colleges for materials scientists are the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Santa Barbara.
There are also many online materials scientist courses to help get the education required to be a materials scientist.
What education do you need to become a materials scientist?
What degree do you need to be a materials scientist?
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Doctorate, 24%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 2%
What should I major in to become a materials scientist?
Most common colleges for materials scientists
| Materials scientist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 9.86% |
| University of Florida | 8.45% |
| Arizona State University | 5.63% |
| Drexel University | 5.63% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 5.63% |
Best majors for materials scientists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemistry | 24.6% |
| 2 | Materials Science And Engineering | 20.6% |
| 3 | Chemical Engineering | 8.5% |
| 4 | Physics | 8.1% |
| 5 | Materials Sciences | 7.4% |
Best colleges for materials scientists
The best colleges for materials scientists are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Washington University in St Louis.
A materials scientist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for materials scientists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become materials scientists.
1. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
7. The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL • Private
In-state tuition
$10,780
Enrollment
32,177
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
9. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
10. University of California - San Diego
La Jolla, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,167
Enrollment
30,279
20 best online courses for materials scientists
Advertising disclosure
1. AI Materials
Learn about the materials that have advanced the performance of artificial intelligence, and the machine learning models that could help accelerate the design and development of novel materials. This course defines artificial intelligence (AI) as a machine to which some or all of the functions of the human brain have been delegated. It highlights the need, and explains in an easy-to-understand way how machine learning from artificial intelligence can dramatically accelerate the development of...
2. Materials Science for Advanced Technological Applications
This specialization extends upon the initial introduction specialization, and like the other specialization, it introduces a limited number of new materials science and engineering concepts. Presentations are at the concept level without being marred in heavy mathematics. Topics in this specialization topic include strengthening of metal, polymers, ceramic materials, and composite. Some of the position titles that may benefit from this course include Materials Engineer, Chemical Engineer,...
3. Angular Material In Depth (Angular 16)
In-depth guided tour to the Angular Material component library (in Angular 16)...
4. Materialize CSS From Scratch With 5 Projects
Master HTML 5 & the Materialize CSS framework by building 5 real world responsive material design based themes...
5. Materials in Oral Health
The drive for development of new and novel oral biomaterials has never been more important with many people using oral biomaterials today and seeing their benefits in restoring and improving their oral health for a more enjoyable lifestyle. The unique properties of biomaterials such as titanium (Ti), zirconia (ZrO2) and various polymeric materials have made them materials of choice in oral health: dental implants, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and even regenerative medicine. Oral biomaterials...
6. Mechanics of Materials IV: Deflections, Buckling, Combined Loading & Failure Theories
This course explores the analysis and design of engineering structures considering factors of deflection, buckling, combined loading, & failure theories ------------------------------------------------- The copyright of all content and materials in this course are owned by either the Georgia Tech Research Corporation or Dr. Wayne Whiteman. By participating in the course or using the content or materials, whether in whole or in part, you agree that you may download and use any content and/or...
7. Angular Material: Ultimate Masterclass With Angular 9 (2020)
Become A Highly Paid Angular 9 Developer And Master Angular Material & Type Script...
8. Angular (Full App) with Angular Material, Angularfire & NgRx
Use Angular, Angular Material, Angularfire (+ Firebase with Firestore) and Ng Rx to build a real Angular App...
9. Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building
In the Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building specialization, you learn about healthier building materials, exploring subjects ranging from classification of toxic chemicals to new green innovations. You start by investigating the intersection of building materials and human health. Then, you learn how chemistry and toxicology affect the built world. Next, you examine design specifications from a healthier materials perspective. Finally, you employ cutting-edge practices to execute a...
10. Introduction to Materials Science
Periods of our civilization have names associated with materials – stone age, bronze age, iron age and the silicon age. Materials impact all aspects of your daily life and will continue to do so in the future. The more we understand materials, the more we imagine the future with fantastic devices and advancements enabled by materials. This initial specialization introduces a limited number of material science and engineering concepts. The topic presentations are at the concept level without...
11. Android Material Design
Introduction, Implementation and Mastering. All in one!...
12. Android Material UI Design Masterclass with Adobe Xd
Learn to Design Mobile Apps following the guidliness of Material System Design using Adobe Xd...
13. Building High Quality User Experience Using Material UI
A user experience is built upon a user’s experiences and interactions with a product, system, or service. Providing high quality digital experiences in a web application involves writing CSS codes which focus on display, navigation, actions, input, and communication. However, CSS has its own set of challenges which can be addressed using Material UI design library. This course will enable you to use CSS-in-JS and work with design systems like Material UI to quickly develop high quality React...
14. Materials Science for Technological Application
This Specialization will provide you with an introductory knowledge and understanding of key concepts in Materials Science. Periods of our civilization have names associated with materials – stone age, bronze age, iron age, and the silicon age. Materials impact all aspects of your daily life and will continue to do so in the future. The more we understand materials, the more we imagine the future with fantastic devices and advancements enabled by materials. This initial specialization...
15. Substance Designer 2020: Stylized material creation.
Learn all the fundamentals to create materials from scratch using the powerful node system of Substance Designer...
16. SAP MM Materials Management (beginner to expert level)
Master SAP Materials Management module with practical implementation steps. Prepare and crack SAP MM Certification exam...
17. Circular Economy - Sustainable Materials Management
This course looks at where important materials in products we use every day come from and how these materials can be used more efficiently, longer, and in closed loops. This is the aim of the Circular Economy, but it doesn’t happen on its own. It is the result of choices and strategies by suppliers, designers, businesses, policymakers and all of us as consumers. In addition to providing many cases of managing materials for sustainability, the course also teaches skills and tools for analyzing...
18. Material Extrusion
This course is a deep dive into the most commonly used method of additive manufacturing: material extrusion. We specifically examine the fused deposition modeling process, and then look at the related composite extrusion process which can extrude a continuous fiber (such as carbon fiber) along with a thermoplastic. The necessary elements for each course are lecture videos, knowledge checks, and project completion. For additional information on certain topics, I've included supplemental readings...
19. SAP MM (Materials Management) Consultant Level Course
Learn SAP Material Management module from scratch. Purchasing, Schema Determination, Material Master, Goods Receipt, etc...
20. Transmission electron microscopy for materials science
Learn about the fundamentals of transmission electron microscopy in materials sciences: you will be able to understand papers where TEM has been used and have the necessary theoretical basis for taking a practical training on the TEM. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the field of materials science. For an instrument operated by a single user, modern TEM provides an analytical platform with unsurpassed versatility, giving access to...
Top 10 most affordable universities for materials scientists
The most affordable schools for materials scientists are University of Florida, new mexico institute of mining and technology, and florida state university.
If the best universities for materials scientists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for materials scientists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
3. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
5. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
6. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
9. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
10. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for materials scientists
The hardest universities for materials scientists to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Washington University in St Louis.
Some great schools for materials scientists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for materials scientists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
4. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
8. California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,566
9. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,545
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for materials scientists
The easiest schools for materials scientists to get into are University of the Incarnate Word, d'youville college, and mount saint mary's university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a materials scientist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for materials scientists.
1. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
2. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
3. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
6. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
7. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
8. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
9. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
10. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
Average materials scientist salary by education level
| Materials scientist education level | Materials scientist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $89,194 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $76,835 |
| Doctorate Degree | $105,944 |
Materials scientist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025