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Industrial Engineering at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $61,718/yr (-16% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Large (60,900 openings/yr)

ROI 17.3x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #49 of 93 Industrial Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Industrial Engineering graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$811K	$790K	$692K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.7x	17.3x	15.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.7x	8.5x	7.4x
Probability of Field Employment	68%	64%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	70	69	68

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$45,800

Out-of-state: $92,840 (8.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$65,752

-44% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,483

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$88,735

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Texas State University's Industrial Engineering graduates start at $61,718/yr, trailing the $73,874 national average by 16%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Industrial Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Industrial Engineering's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,483 in median debt clears quickly against $61,718 in annual earnings.

Ranked #49 of 93 Industrial Engineering programs, Texas State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $61,718 to $88,735 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Texas State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Texas State University is accessible to most applicants, with 34,547 students enrolled in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Industrial production managers $121,440/yr

Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Industrial Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Texas State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Industrial Engineering at Texas State University?

This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Industrial Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Industrial Engineering careers?

With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $691,563 in decade earnings vs $810,784 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Industrial Engineering from Texas State University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →