Industrial Engineeringat University of Illinois Chicago
Graduates earn $57,281/yr in their first year — about 22.0% below the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $807K; scenarios range from $704K to $828K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Illinois Chicago
Starting salaries of $57,281/yr fall 22% below the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 14.1x 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 — 43% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
At $20,341 in median debt against $57,281 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #52 out of 93 programs, University of Illinois Chicago's financial outcomes for Industrial Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $57,281 to $88,853 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
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 Illinois Chicago'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 Illinois Chicago stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Illinois Chicago
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Illinois Chicago, 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 Illinois Chicago
How does University of Illinois Chicago's Industrial Engineering program score?
A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Illinois Chicago trails the majority of Industrial Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 are Industrial Engineering earnings lower at University of Illinois Chicago?
Lower starting pay at University of Illinois Chicago may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.