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Industrial Engineering at Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $77,815/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Large (60,900 openings/yr)

ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #78 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	$764K	$747K	$659K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.4x	13.1x	11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.3x	6.1x	5.4x
Probability of Field Employment	68%	64%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$57,188

Out-of-state: $121,676 (6.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,092

-3% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,126

3.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $77,815 at Wayne State University come in 5% above the national median of $73,874 for Industrial Engineering programs.

The 13.1x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $77,815 far exceeding the $21,126 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #78 out of 93 programs, Wayne State University's financial outcomes for Industrial Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Wayne State University

Wayne State University accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 15,676 in Detroit, MI. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Wayne 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

Industrial Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wayne State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wayne State University's Industrial Engineering program score?

A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Wayne State University 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.

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