MS in Materials Science: Colleges, Fees in USA

Choosing the right university is very important for your studies and future job opportunities. Many schools in the USA rank highly because they have great Materials Science programs. Some of these well-known schools are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology. They attract applicants from all over the world.

List of colleges for MS in Materials Science:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Stanford University
• University of California, Berkeley
• California Institute of Technology
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Northwestern University
• University of Michigan
• Cornell University

These additional schools also offer top-notch Materials Science programs and are worth considering for your MS degree.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers excellent programs in materials science. The Master of Science degree is open to both domestic and international students. MIT stands out because it focuses on new research in materials science, data science, and electrical engineering. The applicants need a strong letter of recommendation. MIT tuition is competitive. Because of this, most students who pursue their higher education prefer this institution. Meeting the requirements in IELTS or GRE and having a good foundation in the course they want to take will suffice for any future student.

Stanford University

Stanford University features interdisciplinary research and strategic location near Silicon Valley, which is known as a world-recognized metropolis for tech innovation. The MS in Materials Science program at Stanford incites its students to do work collaboratively with faculty members for impactful research relevant to real-life problems.

This program covers many areas, such as nanomaterials, energy storage, biomaterials, and computational materials science. Good financial planning is key. Stanford provides different funding options to help students with their MS degrees. These include scholarships, fellowships, and research assistantships.

University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is a public university situated in Berkeley, USA which was established in 1868. The University of California's acceptance rate is 12%, indicating that UC Berkeley admissions are highly competitive. The University of California's GPA requirement is approximately 3.4 out of 4.0 for UG and 3.0 for PG courses. However, it is highly recommended to attain a higher GPA as the UC, Berkeley admission team is very selective. Some of the University of California's popular courses for international students at Berkeley include Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Business, Management and Marketing. All International candidates must complete the UC Berkeley English language requirements for their selected course if English is not their native language. To fulfil UC Berkeley eligibility criteria, applicants are required to take and secure qualifying scores in the English language test such as - TOEFL, IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology is a prominent public research university which was established in 1885 as Georgia School of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The university regained its identity as Georgia Institute of Technology in 1948. The institute has an acceptance rate of 16%, which makes it highly competitive and selective. For entry into the Georgia Institute of Technology courses, a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a scale of 4.0 is required as per the requirements. Some of its popular courses include Engineering & Technology, Arts & Humanities, Physical sciences, Sociology, Life sciences, Computer science, Business & Economics and Psychology. Georgia Institute of Technology has several notable alumni who have mastered their skills and qualities globally. The institute has produced many more personalities who have empowered the world and have a good alumni community. A few of the Georgia Institute of Technology's notable alumni are Jimmy Carter, Roman Reigns, Chris Bosh, Randolph Scott, and Pernell Roberts.

International students need to provide proof of their English language test to comply with Georgia Institute of Technology's English language requirements. The tests accepted at the university are TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, CPE, ACT, SAT, Duolingo, and more.

Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a private research university located in Evanston, Illinois, along the shores of Lake Michigan within the Chicago metropolitan area. The university was established in 1851 and is the oldest chartered university in Illinois. Northwestern is a highly respected university, consistently ranked among the top universities in the United States. Northwestern University has an acceptance rate of 7% which shows that the university is highly selective and only 7 out of every 100 students are admitted into the university. Northwestern University is a home to 8,000 undergraduate students and 14,000 postgraduate students from over 50 states and 75 countries around the world. The university has 2,300+ international students, comprising about 10.5% of the total student body. The university has a strong academic excellence and provides undivided attention to the students. The student to faculty ratio at Northwestern University is 6:1.

Northwestern University offers various undergraduate and graduate programmes to both domestic and international students. Top courses at the university are in the fields of Economics, Psychology, Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, Mathematics, History, Statistics, Cognitive Science, Anthropology, and Chemistry. Northwestern University has produced a variety of Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. It has a significant research community, with over 90 school-based research institutes and 35 university research centres.The university has been at the 31st position according to THE Rankings 2025.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) was established in 1891 and was located in California, United States of America. It is a private educational institution. The acceptance rate of California Institute of Technology is 3%, which makes it highly competitive. It is ranked as one of the top universities in the USA and the academic courses of Caltech are on the leading edge, wide-ranging, and frequently considered to be among the best in the world. California Institute of Technology spans more than 124 acres of land on a single campus. The main campus of Caltech is home to a blend of modern and old structures, many of which have a distinctly Spanish or Mediterranean architectural character. Caltech’s notable alumni include famous business personalities, musicians, writers, actors, and sports and media personalities. Some of the notable alumni are Kip Thorne (American Theoretical Physicist and Writer), Linus Pauling (American Chemist and Biochemist), William Shockley (American Inventor and Physicist), and Gordon Moore (American Businessman and Engineer). Caltech requires all International students to meet the English proficiency requirements through standardised English tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, DET. The tests must be taken within two years before the date of application.

Cornell University

Cornell University is a private Ivy League land-grant research university that was established in 1865 and is located in New York, United States of America. The overall acceptance rate of Cornell University is approximately 8% while the acceptance rate for M.S. course is 3%, making it highly competitive for International students. Cornell University is ranked one of the most preferred top M.S. colleges in the USA. All international students should submit scores of either of the English language proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL-iBT, Pearson Test of English (PTE), or Duolingo English Test (DET). Cornell University has three campuses: two in New York and one in Qatar. The main campus of Cornell University is situated in Ithaca, USA, with an infrastructure of around 745 acres. Cornell University has produced over 50 Nobel laureates out of which, some names are Bill Nye (American Engineer), Anthony Fauci (Former Chief Medical Advisor to the President of the United States), Jane Lynch (American Actress and Comedian), and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States). It has been ranked at the 20th position according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan was established as a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The University of Michigan offers over 250 degree programmes among students of over 135 nationalities in the world. UMich is known for its academic excellence, its vibrant student life, and its strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. It has been ranked at the 22nd position according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. The university has an acceptance rate of around 18%. The university is considered to be highly selective, and its acceptance rate has been declining for international students in recent years. The university has 3 campuses, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint. The University of Michigan has 19 schools and colleges. Some of them are - College of Architecture+Urban Planning, College of Engineering, College of Literature, Science and Arts, College of Pharmacy, School of Art and Design, School of Business, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, and many more. The University of Michigan has produced some of the most notable alumni who are now working in high positions at prestigious and well-known organisations or have become entrepreneurs for global companies.

Understanding the Financial Aspects

Pursuing a master's degree in the USA requires good financial planning. Tuition costs might vary significantly. There could be other factors, such as which college ranks higher, how long the program is going to take, and geographically where the school is located. Let's not forget living expenses. These could include housing, food costs, transportation, and other personal expenses.

Looking for scholarships is important. They can help lower your financial load. Many universities and outside groups give financial help to international students. This is especially true for students in STEM fields like materials science.

Average Tuition Fees and Living Costs

Tuition fees for an MS in Material Science in the USA cost about $30,000 to $70,000 each year.

Living Costs

The living cost for international students falls in the range of $15,000 to $25,000 per annum. It covers lodging, food, health insurance, transport, among other personal expenses. The students must create a realistic budget that will cater to tuition fees, living costs, and other extra money they might need.

Scholarship Opportunities for Indian Students

There are many scholarship options for Indian students who need financial help to study for an MS in Materials Science in the USA. Many universities give merit-based scholarships. These are based on how well students perform academically, their GRE test scores, and their research potential.

Apart from the university scholarships, other organizations and foundations offer funding for international students, such as Indian students. Each funding source may have its own set of eligibility rules and deadlines for application, so there should be research and application within due dates.

Every Indian student should look for scholarships early in the game. They must apply for as many scholarships as possible to raise the chances of receiving financial aid.

In conclusion, getting an MS in Materials Science in the USA provides many chances for a great career in research and development. Top colleges like MIT and Stanford have strong programs and many research options. It is important to know about money matters, like average tuition fees and scholarship chances, to plan your education. Make a well-informed choice based on your interests and goals to pick the best university. As materials science becomes more important in different industries, investing in an MS program in this field can add value to your future. Learning more in this exciting field can lead you to wonderful job opportunities.