Everything is made of something
Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State has been leading the way since 2004. From semiconductors to aerospace to sustainable energy, materials science and engineering is at the heart of every technology that shapes our world. At Boise State, we are making materials that matter.
By the Numbers
Materials engineers are among the highest paid engineering professionals in the country. A bachelor’s degree is all it takes to get started. No grad school required.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
$68k+
$108k
$172k+
6%
MSMSE Programs
Undergraduate Programs
ABET accredited B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering. Real research from day one.
Graduate Programs
Ph.D., M.S., and M.Eng. programs. Fully funded PhD positions available. Interdisciplinary research.
Research
Nationally recognized research in semiconductors, nanomaterials, energy, and more.
Materials Science Changes Everything
The biggest challenges facing the world, from clean energy to faster computing to longer-lasting medicine, all share one thing – their solutions depend on materials science. Our faculty and students are working to find solutions to those challenges in partnership with Micron, Idaho National Laboratory, the Department of Energy, and more.
3% to 26% solar cell efficiency in just over a decade
Materials scientists around the world pushed solar cell efficiency from 3% to over 26% since 2009, faster than any other solar material in history. Explore the Computational Materials Engineering Lab, where MSMSE researchers model the next generation of solar and energy materials to take on problems just like this.
U.S. Dept of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency, 20243x more energy, same size battery
Advances in electrode and electrolyte materials have tripled the energy density of lithium-ion batteries since commercialization, making electric vehicles and modern smartphones possible. MSMSE’s Electrochemical Energy Materials Lab engineers next-generation sodium-ion battery materials for safer, lower-cost storage.
Peer-reviewed literature, Advanced Materials, 2018Nearly half of American’s carbon-free electricity comes from nuclear
MSMSE’s Advanced Materials Lab develops accident tolerant fuels with Idaho National Laboratory. By holding more uranium per pellet and conducting heat better to allow higher power or longer fuel cycles, these materials give reactors a wider safety margin and help bring next-generation small modular reactors online.
U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2024Semiconductor films just 1 to 3 atoms thick
MSMSE’s Advanced Nanomaterials and Manufacturing Lab rund one of the only tools at any U.S. university built to grow wafer-scale 2D semiconductor films. At one to three atoms thick, these materials are candidates to replace the silicon in today’s processors and make computing faster and far more energy efficient.
Boise State University, Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, 2024Why this means a career for you
- These problems are unsolved. The engineers working on them are among the highest paid in the country, with a median salary of $108,310 and 1,500 new job openings projected every year.
- At MSMSE, your research partners include Micron, Idaho National Laboratory, the Department of Energy, PNNL, and more. These are the organizations writing the next chapter of these breakthroughs.
What challenge do you want to solve?
Join a community of innovators at the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering. From semiconductors to sustainable energy, find your path at the intersection of science and innovation with our dedicated faculty and career-ready programs.