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Engineering · Industrial Engineering Rank #26 of 93

Industrial Engineeringat Texas Tech University

Graduates earn $71,545/yr in their first year — about 3.0% below the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $899K; scenarios range from $773K to $927K depending on AI disruption.

Lubbock, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
73 STRONG
74
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$71,545
1-year post-graduation
ROI
21.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$899K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University's Industrial Engineering program produces graduates earning $71,545/yr — within striking distance of the $73,874 national average for this field.

With a 19.0x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Industrial Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $28,500 in median debt clears quickly against $71,545 in annual earnings.

A #26 ranking among 93 Industrial Engineering programs places Texas Tech University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 45% earnings increase from $71,545 to $104,083 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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
$773K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple16.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$899K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple19.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$927K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple19.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Texas Tech 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 Tech 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 Tech University

Other top programs at Texas Tech University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas Tech 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 Tech University

What does a 73/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Industrial Engineering at Texas Tech University?

At 73/100, 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 Texas Tech 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.