Industrial Engineeringat Kent State University at Kent
Graduates earn $56,274/yr in their first year — about 24.0% below the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $697K; scenarios range from $622K to $711K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Kent State
Starting salaries of $56,274/yr fall 24% below the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 13.6x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
At $26,500 in median debt against $56,274 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #57 out of 93 programs, Kent State University at Kent's financial outcomes for Industrial Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $56,274 to $76,477 shows 36% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Kent State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Industrial Engineering
How Kent State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Kent State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Kent State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Industrial Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Industrial Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Industrial Engineering at Kent State
How does Kent State University at Kent's Industrial Engineering program score?
A score of 64/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Kent State University at Kent 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.
Why are Industrial Engineering earnings lower at Kent State University at Kent?
Lower starting pay at Kent State University at Kent may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.