Industrial Engineering at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
68
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $76,707/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Large (60,900 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #50 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 $895K $869K $750K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.4x 10.1x 8.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.4x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 64% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 68 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$86,096
Out-of-state: $159,560 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$120,296
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,375
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,365
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $76,707/yr, roughly in line with the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.1x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $76,707 far exceeding the $24,375 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #50 out of 93 programs, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus's financial outcomes for Industrial Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $76,707 to $102,365 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

A 50% admission rate makes University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 20,189 students in Pittsburgh, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus →

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 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

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

How does University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus's Industrial Engineering program score?
A score of 68/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus trails the majority of Industrial Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Industrial Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Industrial Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 43% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →