Penn State has been a leader in materials science and engineering education and innovation since the very beginning. Our programs are consistently rated highly in many rankings, including U.S. News & World Report. Here are a few examples of recent rankings, primarily relating to our academic standing.
National Science Foundation Research Expenditure Rankings
Penn State’s research enterprise ranks #4 in the country in total research expenditures, according to the latest National Science Foundation rankings of Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) of the total R&D expenditures in fiscal year 2022.
#2 in Materials Engineering (fourth consecutive year)
#3 in Materials Science
#6 in total overall Engineering
U.S. News and World Report Rankings
Graduate Programs
#11 in Materials Engineering (2024)
Undergraduate Programs
In materials engineering where the highest engineering degree offered is a doctorate.
#10 in Materials Engineering (2025)
Best Global Universities
#46 in Materials Science (2024)
Note that specialty rankings are not available in all disciplines at the undergraduate level, and not all disciplines are ranked every year.
QS World University 2023 Rankings by Subject
#26 - Materials Science
Academic Ranking of World Universities
2024 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
#22 in Materials Science & Engineering
#28 in Metallurgical Engineering
Penn State ranks 17th among US publics, top 5% globally in THE World University Rankings