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Industrial Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
73
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $82,437/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Large (60,900 openings/yr)
ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #27 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 $896K $870K $751K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.5x 14.0x 12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 5.9x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 68% 64% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 73 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,912
Out-of-state: $146,776 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$95,160
-54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,625
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$103,958
26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $82,437/yr, edging above the $73,874 national average for Industrial Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 14.0x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $22,625 in median debt against $82,437 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #27 out of 93 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Industrial Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $82,437 to $103,958 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

With a 57% acceptance rate, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is moderately selective, serving a student body of 30,435 in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($96,432) Computer Engineering ($86,636) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($83,364) Construction Engineering ($82,627) Chemical Engineering ($82,382) Applied Mathematics ($82,275) Engineering Mechanics ($81,735) Mechanical Engineering ($78,280)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Industrial Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Industrial Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University'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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →