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Engineering · Industrial Engineering Rank #5 of 93

Industrial Engineeringat University of Arkansas

Graduates earn $75,968/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $922K; scenarios range from $790K to $952K depending on AI disruption.

Fayetteville, AR Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
75 STRONG
76
Optimistic
73
Pessimistic
Earnings
$75,968
1-year post-graduation
ROI
26.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$922K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas's Industrial Engineering program consistently ranks among the nation's best, a testament to its strong curriculum and faculty. This reputation, combined with its location amidst global supply chain giants like Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, provides unparalleled real-world experience and robust recruiting pipelines. You'll find graduates excelling in operations, logistics, manufacturing, and even healthcare, applying their process optimization skills across diverse industries. The program's strength ensures your degree opens doors nationally, not just regionally.

While the field's core tasks are increasingly susceptible to AI, your long-term success hinges on developing strategic thinking, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal skills that complement automated analysis. Focus on integrating data science and AI tools into your skill set, while also cultivating the leadership and communication abilities essential for implementing change and managing teams.

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
$790K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple20.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$922K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple23.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$952K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple24.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Arkansas'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 University of Arkansas 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 University of Arkansas

Other top programs at University of Arkansas

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arkansas, 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 University of Arkansas

How does University of Arkansas's Industrial Engineering program score?

A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Arkansas's Industrial Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Industrial Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Industrial Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 43% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of Arkansas rank so high for Industrial Engineering?

The #5 ranking out of 93 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.