Undergraduate Admissions
What is Materials Science and Engineering?
Materials Science and Engineering is an interdisciplinary field of study. Students build a fundamental understanding of materials by taking courses in chemistry, physics, and engineering. In this program, you'll learn how to tailor the structure, properties, and performance of existing materials. You will also develop and synthesize new materials with unique properties. Finding the right material is important for both major technological and societal challenges. Examples include: renewable energy generation and storage, development of advanced microelectronics, environmental remediation, space exploration, and sustainable transportation. Our program can take you to the forefront of technology. If you want to make things smaller, faster, stronger, and smarter, this major might be for you.
Career Options
- Manufacturing
- Materials
- Research
- Packaging
- Process development
- Quality management
Post-Graduation Success1
- 71% continuing education
- 27% employed after graduation
- 2% other
- $71,700 average starting annual income
- 98% of 2020-2021 graduates secured their first destination in employment or continuing education
Sample employers of MatSE graduates
Sample grad school destinations
Graduation & Retention2
- 3.9 years to degree
- 94% freshman retention rate
- 69% four-year graduation rate
- 85% six-year graduation rate
Fall 2022-Spring 2023
Annual Program Costs
Illinois Resident
- Tuition: $17,660
- Fees: $4,664
- Expenses3: $3,700
- Total: $38,744
Non-Resident
- Tuition: $38,132
- Fees: $4,664
- Expenses3: $16,760
- Total: $59,556
International
- Tuition: $41,110
- Fees: $4,664
- Expenses3:$ 16,760
- Total: $62,534
Content from Admissions
1 Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics are aggregated from the past three academic years, including the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-2021 graduating classes. Total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation, such as signing bonus, commission or benefits, are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website.
2 Data may not yet be available for newly created programs. Years-to-degree data is only available for programs from which you can earn a degree. Retention and graduation rates are only available for programs that you can apply directly into. Retention rates reflect retention to the university, not necessarily retention within the major.
3 Expenses are estimated and include books, supplies, housing, and other living expenses. The exact amount you’ll pay depends on where you decide to live, the meal plan you choose, and your overall lifestyle. Learn more about costs.
How to Apply
Applications are due by December 15 at http://admissions.illinois.edu. When you apply, you will be asked to list a first choice and a second choice department. We hope that you will select MatSE as your first choice but if not, please consider listing MatSE as your second choice. Admission to the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois is competitive and providing the name of a second choice department can increase your chances of being admitted to the Engineering College.
Transfer student?
Your Future
As a MatSE graduate, you will be in demand with industry leading companies, small start-ups and government agencies that rely on current and improved materials technology. Our alumni fill the employee rosters of companies such as 3M, Accenture, Alcatel-Lucent, Boeing, Caterpillar, Ford Motor Company, ExxonMobil, GE Aviation, General Mills, IBM, Intel, Kimberly Clark, and Texas Instruments, to name a few. MatSE careers & placement statistics
MatSE undergraduates frequently work as undergraduate research assistants in professors’ labs, so it’s not surprising that around 40% of MatSE graduates will go to graduate school after they finish their B.S. degree, most for their Ph.D. but some for an M.S. or even a J.D. or M.D.
The people within the MatSE Department are what makes it so extraordinary. At Illinois you’re always going to find brilliant and hardworking engineering students, but MatSE people have something special.”
Mackenzie Kurth
MatSE Undergraduate Student