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Industrial Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,313/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Large (60,900 openings/yr)
ROI 13.0x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #38 of 93 Industrial Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Industrial Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $854K $831K $722K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.3x 13.0x 11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 6.0x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 64% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (6.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,804
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,299
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$98,221
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $78,313/yr, edging above the $73,874 national average for Industrial Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.0x 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.

At $21,299 in median debt against $78,313 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #38 of 93 Industrial Engineering programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $78,313 to $98,221 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

With a 44% acceptance rate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is moderately selective, serving a student body of 34,623 in Champaign, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Industrial production managers $121,440/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 93 schools offering Industrial Engineering →

Industrial Engineering at Other Schools

SUNY Maritime College ($91,470) Northwestern University ($89,811) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($87,826) University of Southern California ($87,807) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($87,226) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($86,476) Kettering University ($85,105) North Carolina A & T State University ($83,427)

Other Majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Computer Science ($124,530) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($113,503) Mathematics and Computer Science ($109,843) Computer Engineering ($103,123) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($86,483) Systems Engineering ($81,785) Nuclear Engineering ($81,134) Mechanical Engineering ($80,187)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Industrial Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Industrial Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Industrial Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $721,718 in decade earnings vs $853,903 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →