Industrial Engineeringat The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Graduates earn $73,822/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $730K; scenarios range from $646K to $746K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Tennessee
First-year earnings of $73,822 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 13.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 13% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Industrial Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $21,500 in median debt against $73,822 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #48 ranking among 93 Industrial Engineering programs places The University of Tennessee-Knoxville in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The limited growth from $73,822 to $84,642 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.
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 University of Tennessee'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 University of Tennessee stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Tennessee
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Tennessee, 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 University of Tennessee
What does a 69/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Industrial Engineering at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
At 69/100, the score looks reasonable — but Industrial Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Industrial Engineering at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
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.