Home Schools University of Minnesota Industrial Engineering
Engineering · Industrial Engineering Rank #44 of 93

Industrial Engineeringat University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Graduates earn $73,777/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $802K; scenarios range from $701K to $824K depending on AI disruption.

Minneapolis, MN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
69 SOLID
70
Optimistic
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$73,777
1-year post-graduation
ROI
13.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$802K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Minnesota

At $73,777/yr, Industrial Engineering graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities land near the $73,874 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.2x 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.

The median debt load of $21,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #44 out of 93 programs, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's Industrial Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $73,777 to $93,671 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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
$701K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$802K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple12.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$824K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple12.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at University of Minnesota

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

How does University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's Industrial Engineering program score?

This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Industrial Engineering graduates.

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.