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Industrial Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $70,554/yr (-4% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Large (60,900 openings/yr)

ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #91 of 93 Industrial Engineering programs

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	$708K	$694K	$619K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.2x	10.0x	8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.4x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	68%	64%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	54	54	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$69,428

Out-of-state: $157,172 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$94,764

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,111

4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $70,554 track close to the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 10.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

At $26,111 in median debt against $70,554 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #91 of 93 Industrial Engineering programs, University of Massachusetts-Amherst falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About University of Massachusetts-Amherst

With a 58% acceptance rate, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 23,694 students in Amherst, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Massachusetts-Amherst →

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

Industrial Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Industrial Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Amherst?

This program scores 54/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Industrial Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $619,462 in decade earnings vs $707,687 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →