Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $72,112 track close to the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 15.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 14% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Industrial Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $23,750 in median debt against $72,112 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #41 ranking among 93 Industrial Engineering programs places Northern Illinois University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 23% earnings increase from $72,112 to $88,954 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.