Industrial Engineeringat Lehigh University
Graduates earn $81,142/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,024K; scenarios range from $866K to $1,060K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Lehigh University
At $81,142 per year, Industrial Engineering graduates from Lehigh University earn slightly above the $73,874 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
At 4.1x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Industrial Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $23,834 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #59 ranking among 93 Industrial Engineering programs places Lehigh University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 49% earnings increase from $81,142 to $121,172 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 Lehigh University'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 Lehigh University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Lehigh University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lehigh University, 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 Lehigh University
What does a 63/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Industrial Engineering at Lehigh University?
At 63/100, the score looks reasonable — but Industrial Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Industrial Engineering at Lehigh University?
The 43% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.