Industrial Production Technologies at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,639/yr (-24% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (27% exposed)
Job Market Large (69,900 openings/yr)
ROI 19.3x earnings multiple (8.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #25 of 48 Industrial Production Technologies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Industrial Production Technologies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $693K $684K $630K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.5x 19.3x 17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 8.7x 8.0x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 53% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,456
Out-of-state: $78,608 (8.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,236
-56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,250
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,283
65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $45,639 per year, Industrial Production Technologies graduates from Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn below the $60,266 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 19.3x 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 — 27% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,250 debt-to-$45,639 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #25 out of 48 programs, Northwestern State University of Louisiana's financial outcomes for Industrial Production Technologies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $45,639 to $75,283 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Northwestern State University of Louisiana

With 94% of applicants admitted, Northwestern State University of Louisiana prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 5,840 in Natchitoches, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana →

Top Career Paths

Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390/yr
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians $77,180/yr
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians $64,790/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Industrial Production Technologies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwestern State University of Louisiana's Industrial Production Technologies program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Northwestern State University of Louisiana trails the majority of Industrial Production Technologies programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Why are Industrial Production Technologies earnings lower at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
Lower starting pay at Northwestern State University of Louisiana 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 →