Industrial Engineeringat Northern Illinois University
Graduates earn $72,112/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $767K; scenarios range from $674K to $786K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Northern Illinois University
First-year earnings of $72,112 track close to the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 15.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 14% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Industrial Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $23,750 in median debt against $72,112 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #41 ranking among 93 Industrial Engineering programs places Northern Illinois University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 23% earnings increase from $72,112 to $88,954 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 Northern Illinois 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 Northern Illinois University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Northern Illinois University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northern Illinois 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 Northern Illinois University
What does a 70/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Industrial Engineering at Northern Illinois University?
At 70/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Industrial Engineering at Northern Illinois 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.