Master of Science [MS] (Materials Science and Engineering)
Field of Study:
$35,162 /Yr
University of Minnesota Twin Cities MS in Materials Science and Engineering is a 30-credit, part-time, on-campus degree for Minnesota-based industry professionals. The university does not publish a fixed completion duration. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 nonresident tuition was US$2,894 per credit (INR 2.75 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.
The programme develops advanced knowledge across material structure, thermodynamics, kinetics, electronic properties and mechanical behaviour through major and outside-field coursework. It best fits an employed engineer with a related bachelor’s degree, Minnesota residence and enough daytime flexibility for courses.
- The 30-credit structure permits focused study in polymers, nanotechnology, biochemical engineering and sustainable materials while retaining interdisciplinary coursework.
- The current admissions route does not require or review Graduate Record Examination scores, allowing applicants to focus on academic preparation and professional evidence.
- Fall-only entry aligns coursework planning, but the local-employment restriction makes this programme unsuitable as a relocation route from India.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: 15 December 2026.
The university publishes no cutoff time, so applicants should treat the portal time as controlling and submit before 15 December 2026. Applicants based outside Minnesota are not currently considered for this programme.
Also Check: University of Minnesota Twin Cities Admission
UMN MS Materials Science Fees and Living Costs 2027
Fall 2027 tuition is not yet published, so applicants cannot calculate a confirmed target-cycle programme total. The university’s 2026-27 nonresident part-time rate provides planning context, but it must not be treated as the 2027-28 charge.
Prior-cycle planning reference: The following tuition figures use the 2026-27 nonresident graduate rate and the programme’s official 30-credit requirement.
| Tuition item | Amount (US$) | INR equivalent | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresident part-time tuition per credit | US$2,894 | INR 2.75 Lakhs | Official 2026-27 rate |
| Calculated 30-credit tuition | US$86,820 | INR 82.43 Lakhs | US$2,894 multiplied by 30 credits |
Source: University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2026-27 graduate tuition schedule.
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$ 1 = INR 94.9481 as of 26 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
The current international application fee is US$95 (INR 9,020), and master’s applicants cannot receive a departmental fee waiver. Verify the target fee on the official fee page.
Cost of Living in Minneapolis for Materials Science Students
The university’s 2026-27 graduate budget estimates US$28,460 (INR 27.02 Lakhs) for books, housing, food, transport and personal costs across fall and spring. These figures describe a full-time student budget, while this MS requires applicants already living and working in Minnesota.
2026-27 official planning reference: Monthly values below divide the university’s fall-and-spring estimates by 12, while the final row preserves the published annual total.
| Expense | Monthly (US$) | Monthly INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Housing and food | US$1,709.17 | INR 1.62 Lakhs |
| Transportation | US$245.83 | INR 23,341 |
| Personal and miscellaneous | US$333.33 | INR 31,649 |
| Books and course materials | US$83.33 | INR 7,912 |
| Calculated monthly total | US$2,371.67 | INR 2.25 Lakhs |
| Official annual total | US$28,460 | INR 27.02 Lakhs |
A prior-cycle planning illustration totals US$115,375 (INR 1.10 Crore): US$86,820 tuition, US$28,460 living costs and the US$95 application fee. It is not a Fall 2027 price because 2027-28 tuition remains unpublished and completion timing depends on the student’s credit load.
- Ask an employer to confirm annual tuition assistance before enrollment because the 30-credit cost can span several benefit years.
- Separate existing household costs from the university’s full-time budget because this programme expects students already established in Minnesota.
- Budget separately for mandatory university charges because the per-credit tuition table does not confirm every fee assessed at registration.
Read More: Cost of Living in the USA for International Students
Student perspective
Several recent university-level student reviews describe winter travel and housing verification as practical concerns, so local applicants should test their daytime commute before choosing courses.
These comments are anecdotal and do not replace official University of Minnesota Twin Cities data.
ROI reality: The prior-cycle tuition illustration already reaches INR 82.43 Lakhs, so employer support and a sustainable part-time credit load are central to affordability.
UMN MS Materials Science Admission 2027
Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in materials science or a related field, relevant preparation and a credible reason for graduate study. Current departmental policy also restricts consideration to applicants working locally in Minnesota.
Fall 2027 admission context: The department evaluates preparation through the complete application rather than a published minimum admission grade.
| Admission factor | Official requirement | Applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Academic degree | Bachelor’s degree in materials science or a related discipline | Show preparation across physics, chemistry, mathematics or engineering materials |
| Location and employment | Working locally in industry and located in Minnesota | Applicants seeking relocation from India do not fit the current route |
| Study route | Part-time and coursework-based for current applicants | Match the statement to professional development rather than a funded research pathway |
| Standardised tests | Graduate Record Examination and Graduate Management Admission Test scores are not used | Do not submit either score because the programme will not review it |
| Recommendations | Three letters assessing scholarship and research potential | Select academic or professional referees who can evaluate advanced technical work |
The university publishes no India-specific grade conversion or programme admission cutoff, so applicants should report grades exactly as their institution issued them. Its in-house staff evaluates Indian credentials, and external credential evaluations cannot replace original institutional documents.
English Language Proficiency
English language proficiency is required unless the university’s education-based exemption applies. India is not on the country exemption list, so English-medium study in India does not automatically remove the test requirement.
Fall 2027 test policy: Scores must remain valid within two years of the programme start, and the department follows the current Graduate School minimums.
| Accepted test | Minimum overall | Required components |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL Internet-Based Test taken on or after 21 January 2026 | 4.5 | Writing 4.5 and Reading 4.5 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | Writing 6.5 and Reading 6.5 |
| Pearson Test of English Academic | 59 | Writing 59 and Reading 59 |
| Duolingo English Test for Fall 2027 | 120 | Writing 120 and Reading 120 |
The current official English proficiency policy uses the revised TOEFL scale for tests taken after 21 January 2026. It also rejects TOEFL MyBest totals, so submit one qualifying test date.
- Choose IELTS or Pearson when a local test centre offers a practical date before the application deadline.
- Check both overall and component scores because a qualifying total cannot compensate for a lower writing or reading result.
- Schedule official score delivery early enough for the university to match the result to the submitted application.
Check Out: University of Minnesota Twin Cities Courses
Tip for Indian students: Clear the Minnesota employment and location screen before paying for tests because academic eligibility alone does not make an overseas applicant admissible.
UMN MS Materials Science Application 2027
The Fall 2027 final deadline is 15 December 2026, and fall is the only published entry term. The university gives no programme-specific decision date or portal cutoff time for this cycle.
Target-cycle schedule: The official catalog supplies the final deadline, while the Graduate School describes February through April as the usual fall decision period.
| Application stage | Date or status | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Open for account creation | Select Materials Science and Engineering at the Twin Cities campus |
| Programme deadline | 15 December 2026 | Submit the application and required materials before the portal cutoff |
| Recommendation follow-up | After submission if necessary | Ask referees to submit promptly so the committee receives a complete file |
| General fall decision period | February to April 2027 | Treat this as university guidance rather than a course guarantee |
| Entry term | Fall 2027 only | Build work-release and course scheduling around fall registration |
The deadline has no published timezone or clock time, so an Indian reader should not infer an IST conversion. Submit at least one day early and preserve the confirmation receipt because the portal’s recorded submission governs timeliness.
Application Documents and Positioning
A complete file combines academic evidence, professional direction and recommendations rather than relying on a test score. The personal statement should connect prior preparation to a specific part-time study plan.
| Component | Published requirement | Course-specific strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Transcripts | Complete records from every post-secondary institution | Upload original-language records plus English translations when required |
| Personal statement | Ideally no more than two pages | Connect work problems to chosen materials coursework and long-term objectives |
| Resume or curriculum vitae | Required | Show materials processing, characterisation, design or technical project responsibility |
| Diversity statement | Up to one page | Explain how prior challenges or skills support contribution to the graduate community |
| Recommendations | Three letters | Use referees who observed advanced analysis, research potential or industrial performance |
| Research statement | Not separately required | Place relevant research experience within the personal statement |
- Confirm Minnesota-based employment before drafting because the programme does not consider applicants seeking relocation from another location.
- Name the daytime scheduling constraint and explain how an employer will support attendance without weakening professional responsibilities.
- Map proposed electives to a real materials problem because the curriculum spans major courses and approved outside-field work.
- Do not send Graduate Record Examination scores because the department states that submitted results will not be reviewed.
Deadline limitation
The university publishes 15 December 2026 without a cutoff time or programme decision date, so submit early and monitor the portal for document matching.
Application tip: The strongest file proves local professional fit, relevant technical preparation and workable daytime availability before discussing specialised materials interests.
UMN MS Materials Science Scholarships 2027
The department offers no funding upon master’s admission, and its master’s students are not eligible for departmental teaching or research assistantships. No Fall 2027 course-specific scholarship amount or deadline is published.
Current published funding position: The programme identifies one university-wide route after enrollment, while common doctoral funding routes do not apply to this master’s.
| Funding route | Eligibility and value | Application implication |
|---|---|---|
| Departmental admission funding | No award is offered upon master’s admission | Build the enrollment decision without an assumed entrance scholarship |
| Teaching or research assistantship | CEMS master’s students are not eligible | Do not model tuition remission or a stipend in the budget |
| University-wide fellowships and grants | Currently enrolled graduate students may apply; value varies | Review live competitions after enrollment and verify each eligibility rule |
| Employer tuition assistance | Not a university award; terms depend on the employer | Secure written reimbursement limits before choosing a credit load |
The university says fellowships generally support educational and living expenses, while grants usually support specific projects. However, the programme publishes no named Fall 2027 award for incoming materials science master’s applicants, so these routes cannot reduce the quoted budget.
- Request an employer benefit statement that names annual caps, grade conditions and repayment obligations before accepting admission.
- Compare reimbursement timing with university billing because delayed employer payment may still require short-term personal liquidity.
- Search university-wide competitions only after checking that part-time master’s enrollment satisfies each award’s registration requirement.
- Exclude doctoral assistantship packages from comparisons because CEMS reserves its funded assistantship model for full-time doctoral students.
Read More: Scholarships in the USA for Indian Students
Funding limitation
No published award lowers Fall 2027 tuition at admission, so applicants should treat employer reimbursement as uncertain until its written terms are confirmed.
Scholarship reality: This master’s begins as a self-funded decision because departmental entry funding and assistantships are unavailable; employer support should be confirmed before enrollment.
UMN MS Materials Science Salary 2027
The university publishes no course-cohort salary, offer rate or placement report for this part-time MS. Career evaluation must therefore use external market benchmarks without presenting them as University of Minnesota graduate outcomes.
Latest available benchmarks: Both figures below describe broader labour markets, and neither measures salaries earned by this programme’s graduates.
| Evidence scope | Published measure | Salary (US$) | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| US labour-market benchmark | Materials engineers median annual wage, May 2025 | US$112,860 | INR 1.07 Crore |
| National undergraduate benchmark cited by UMN | Materials science median starting salary, Summer 2025 | US$76,800 | INR 72.92 Lakhs |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics materials engineers outlook and university-cited National Association of Colleges and Employers data.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 1,300 annual openings for materials engineers. These national projections show market scale, not admission value or an individual placement probability.
Materials engineers work across metals, polymers, semiconductors, composites and product failure analysis, which aligns with the programme’s broad elective model. However, applicants should test whether intended courses solve a defined workplace problem rather than assuming the credential creates a new occupation.
Return on Investment for Working Professionals
The financial case depends on advancement within an existing Minnesota career because the programme is designed around local employment. A salary conversion alone cannot establish payback when target tuition, employer support and course completion timing remain unresolved.
- The prior-cycle 30-credit tuition illustration is US$86,820 (INR 82.43 Lakhs), so obtain written employer reimbursement before committing to the first term.
- The US$112,860 (INR 1.07 Crore) national median includes experienced engineers, so compare any promotion case with an actual employer salary band.
- Daytime courses can reduce billable or salaried work hours, so include approved release time when estimating the credential’s opportunity cost.
- The part-time route does not support an I-20 or post-completion training, so an overseas applicant has no US work-window basis for recovering tuition.
- For an India return, compare verified Indian role offers with programme costs rather than converting a US occupational median into expected Indian pay.
Gross salary can differ materially from take-home income because federal tax, Minnesota tax, benefits and filing status affect deductions. Use the Internal Revenue Service withholding estimator before comparing net earnings with tuition.
ROI reality: The degree is financially defensible only when advanced coursework supports a documented local promotion or employer-funded technical need; published data cannot support a general payback forecast.
USA Visa for UMN MS Materials Science Students 2027
The programme cannot support an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility because it is part-time and excludes applicants outside Minnesota. Without that document, this MS cannot create an F-1 student route, post-study work entitlement or automatic permanent-residence timeline.
- F-1 student status requires a full-time primarily in-person curriculum, so an applicant in India cannot use this part-time MS to enter the United States.
- Optional Practical Training provides 12 months with a possible 24-month science extension only after an eligible F-1 programme, which this route does not provide.
- H-1B sponsorship requires a separate employer and the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage, with no single national salary threshold.
- An F-2 spouse or unmarried child under 21 can accompany a valid F-1 student but cannot work, and this MS supplies no underlying F-1 eligibility.
Read More: F-1 Student Visa Guide for Indian Students
Visa reality: Do not apply from India expecting relocation or post-study work rights because the university cannot issue an I-20 for this part-time programme.
UMN MS Materials Science Ranking 2027
The latest subject evidence places the University of Minnesota at 124th in QS Materials Science 2026. This institutional subject rank measures research and reputation, not the part-time MS curriculum or graduate placement.
Ranking scope: The table separates a materials-specific result from a broader engineering band, so neither should be read as a course-level position.
| Ranking edition | Subject scope | Position | Interpretation limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 | Materials Science | 124 | University of Minnesota system label |
| QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 | Materials Science | 127 | Previous edition for directional context |
| Times Higher Education Subject Rankings 2026 | Engineering | 101 to 125 band | Broader discipline rather than this programme |
The three-position QS movement is modest and does not resolve applicant fit, funding or immigration eligibility. Use the ranking only to assess the wider research environment, then prioritise course access and employer value for this professional route.
Check Out: University of Minnesota Twin Cities Rankings
Honest take: The materials-specific ranking supports academic visibility, but the local-only admissions rule and unfunded part-time design matter more for an Indian applicant’s decision.
The programme fits a Minnesota-based engineer who needs advanced materials coursework while remaining employed. Its interdisciplinary 30-credit structure can support technical advancement, but daytime classes and unavailable entry funding create a substantial tradeoff. An applicant outside Minnesota should choose a full-time alternative that supports immigration documents. A local applicant should confirm employer release time and tuition reimbursement before the 15 December 2026 deadline.
UMN MS Materials Science and Engineering FAQs
Ques. Can an Indian student living in India apply to the UMN MS in Materials Science and Engineering?
Ans. The department is not currently admitting applicants based outside Minnesota, and the programme cannot issue an I-20 for part-time study. An India-based applicant should select a full-time programme instead.
Ques. Is the UMN Materials Science MS a full-time two-year programme?
Ans. No, the current official programme is a 30-credit, part-time, on-campus route for local industry professionals. The university does not publish a fixed completion duration.
Ques. What should a Fall 2027 applicant budget for the UMN Materials Science MS?
Ans. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; the 2026-27 nonresident rate was US$2,894 per credit (INR 2.75 Lakhs), as prior-cycle context. Obtain the new rate before enrollment.
Ques. Can a master’s student receive an assistantship or entrance scholarship?
Ans. CEMS offers no funding upon master’s admission, and its master’s students are ineligible for departmental teaching or research assistantships. Employer reimbursement is therefore the most relevant funding question.
Ques. Is the UMN Materials Science MS worth its cost for a working engineer?
Ans. It can fit a local engineer whose employer values specific advanced coursework and supports daytime attendance. Without reimbursement or a documented promotion path, the prior-cycle tuition illustration creates high financial risk.
Important Alert
- Application Deadline for Fall Intake - Mar 1, 2027
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $35162 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Housing and food | $19600 |
| Transportation | $2000 |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $35162 |
| 2024 | $21360 |
Important Dates
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline for Fall Intake | Mar 1, 2027 |
Scores Required
Required Document List
- Apply online
- Application fees
- Bachelor's Degree
- English language proficiency
- Recommendation letters
- Student Visa Process
- Transcripts and credentials


Do you think the Rankings are wrong ? Report Here
TOP Scholarships
| Scholarship name | Award amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Global Excellence Scholarship | $10,000 – $20,000 | Students are considered based on an overall assessment of their admission application. Awards are competitive and based on academic merit. |
Key Resources for Your Study Abroad Journey
Course Guides
Best MS Courses in USA for International Students in 2025
Masters (MS) in USA: Colleges, Courses, Deadlines, Eligibility & Fees
Masters in Engineering in USA: Fees, Deadlines 2024, Eligibility
Masters in Mechatronics in USA: Fees, Deadlines, Scholarships, and Job Outcomes
College Student Profiles
Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,000/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Bharat Petroleum Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Comindware Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 4,000/Yr$4,000 | Level Of StudyApprenticeship | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
| FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 20,000/Yr$20,000 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$ 10,000/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
















Comments