Industrial Engineeringat Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Graduates earn $65,285/yr in their first year — about 12.0% below the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $655K; scenarios range from $591K to $667K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at LSU
Graduates earn $65,285/yr, roughly in line with the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Industrial Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Industrial Engineering's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $65,285 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #83 of 93 Industrial Engineering programs, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
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 LSU'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 LSU stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at LSU
Other highest-scoring programs offered at LSU, 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 LSU
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Industrial Engineering at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College?
This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Industrial Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Industrial Engineering careers?
With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $590,735 in decade earnings vs $666,611 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.