Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $57,281/yr fall 22% below the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 14.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 43% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
At $20,341 in median debt against $57,281 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #52 out of 93 programs, University of Illinois Chicago's financial outcomes for Industrial Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $57,281 to $88,853 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.