Graduate Admissions

Earn your advanced Materials Science & Engineering degree.

Be a part of the materials legacy at The Grainger College Engineering – home to one of the nation's top-ranked materials programs. Learn from world-class faculty and explore research where diverse perspectives unite to address today’s global challenges. Benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and unique interdisciplinary collaboration reflective of Grainger Engineering’s drive to create a brighter future for all. Earn your degree from a program that not only excels in academic excellence but champions equity and inclusion, ensuring opportunities for all those hungry to discover what is possible

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Degree Programs

Admission to graduate study in Materials Science and Engineering is highly competitive and based on academic and research achievements and overall potential to succeed in the program. We welcome applications from students of all backgrounds and life experiences interested in materials science with undergraduate degrees in scientific and engineering disciplines, including materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics or mechanical engineering.

Ph.D. in MatSE

Students pursuing a research career in academics, industry or national labs should consider the Ph.D. program. Students benefit from a doctoral curriculum that's flexible and easily tailored to support research in materials research areas and your specific interests. 

Apply by December 15 for fall 2024 admission.

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M.S. in MatSE

The Master's of Science degree program is designed for a broad range of students and professionals seeking to expand on their undergraduate training, enhance their professional skills and gain the experience necessary to become a professional scientist/engineer. 

Apply by February 15 for fall 2024 admission.

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Research Centers & Labs 

Our state-of-the-art research centers are built for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Graduate students in MatSE Leal lab.

Materials Research Society

Join the Materials Research Student Society, affiliated with the National Materials Research Society, our premier graduate student organization for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Our core value is that success comes from a collaborative and supportive network.

Join MRS

Where do Ph.D. students go  after graduation?

Stats for doctoral degrees awarded 2014-2021 by destination:

  • 44% academia
  • 38% industry
  • 18% national/international laboratory

  • 3M
  • Intel
  • Lam Research Corporation
  • Apple
  • Applied Materials
  • Dow Chemical Company
  • Genentech
  • Honeywell Aerospace
  • PPG Industries
  • S&C Electric Company
  • Solvay
  • Spirit AeroSystems
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific

National Labs

  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • Lawrence Berkeley Natioanl Laboratory
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society
  • International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research
  • Korea Institute of Science and Technology
  • Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource

Academia

  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Cornell University
  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Northwestern University
  • Princeton University
  • Stanford University
  • The Ohio State University
  • University of California
  • University of Florida
  • University of Maryland, College Park
  • University Of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

Where do M.S. students go  after graduation?

Stats for master's degrees awarded 2014-2021 by destination: 

  • 69% industry
  • 19% academia
  • 10% other
  • 2% national laboratory

  • Intel
  • Alcon
  • Amazon Web Services
  • Arcanum Alloys
  • ASM
  • BASF Corporation
  • Bell Textron
  • Boston Children's Hospital
  • Brilliant Light Power
  • Consolidated Precision Products
  • Corning
  • Creative Thermal Solutions
  • CTLGroup
  • Grand Prairie Independent School District
  • Hyland Software
  • IBM
  • IM Flash Technologies
  • Johnson Health Tech
  • KBRwyle
  • KeaneTech
  • Kettering University
  • KLA Corporation
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Micron Japan
  • Micron Technology
  • Navistar
  • Parker Hannifin
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • Schneider Electric
  • TMEIC
  • WH International Casting
  • Wilana Chemical
  • Wolverine Advanced Materials
  • Xerion
  • Yahoo

  • Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing
  • IMDEA Materials Institute
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • Rice University
  • University of California
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • University of Maryland, College Park
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison


Advance Your Materials Career.


Eager to experience The Grainger College of Engineering Materials Science and Engineering program for yourself? 
Plan a Ph.D.- or M.S.-specific visit or enroll by applying online. 

Plan a Visit      Apply Now       Request More Information