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Engineering · Industrial Engineering Rank #49 of 93

Industrial Engineeringat Texas State University

Graduates earn $61,718/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $790K; scenarios range from $692K to $811K depending on AI disruption.

San Marcos, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
69 SOLID
70
Optimistic
68
Pessimistic
Earnings
$61,718
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$790K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Texas State University

Texas State University's Industrial Engineering graduates start at $61,718/yr, trailing the $73,874 national average by 16%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.3x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,483 in median debt clears quickly against $61,718 in annual earnings.

Ranked #49 of 93 Industrial Engineering programs, Texas State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $61,718 to $88,735 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$692K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple15.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$790K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple17.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$811K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple17.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Texas State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Industrial Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Industrial production managers
+1.9% 10-yr growth · 17,100 openings/yr
$121,440/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Industrial engineers
+11.0% 10-yr growth · 25,200 openings/yr
$101,140/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Industrial Engineering

How Texas State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
SUNY Maritime College
NY · Public
78
DW Score
$91K
1-yr earn
35.1x
ROI
Northwestern University
IL · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$90K
1-yr earn
4.2x
ROI
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
GA · Public
77
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
24.2x
ROI
University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
77
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
26.3x
ROI
Also at Texas State University

Other top programs at Texas State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas State 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Industrial Engineering at Texas State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Industrial Engineering at Texas State University?

This program scores 69/100 — 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 $691,563 in decade earnings vs $810,784 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Industrial Engineering from Texas State University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.