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Industrial Engineering at Lamar University

Beaumont, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $62,053/yr (-16% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Large (60,900 openings/yr)

ROI 18.2x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #80 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	$641K	$632K	$573K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.5x	18.2x	16.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.7x	8.5x	7.8x
Probability of Field Employment	68%	64%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$34,760

Out-of-state: $73,928 (8.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$45,716

-32% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $62,053/yr fall 16% below the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 18.2x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $25,000 in median debt against $62,053 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #80 out of 93 programs, Lamar University's financial outcomes for Industrial Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Lamar University

Lamar University has a 86% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 7,945 students in Beaumont, TX. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Lamar 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 Lamar University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Lamar University's Industrial Engineering program score?

A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Lamar University 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 Lamar University?

Lower starting pay at Lamar University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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