U.S. median for this major: $98,028.
College Scorecard field of study; 22 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 24% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $27,350. College Scorecard.
WSU Industrial Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Industrial Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses WSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $11,090 | $50,127 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $10,721 | $48,459 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $12,068 | $54,547 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $14,828 | $67,023 | 1.0 years |
| $110k+ | $19,862 | $89,776 | 1.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (33% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Industrial Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($101,990) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $68,579 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Industrial Engineering at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Industrial Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $117,930 | $20,306 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 2 | Oakland University | $102,222 | $29,750 | $9,120 | 58% |
| 3 | Wayne State University | $101,990 | $24,340 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 4 | Western Michigan University | $92,306 | — | $15,273 | 58% |
| 5 | Kettering University | $86,265 | — | $34,660 | 71% |
3 more Michigan colleges offer Industrial Engineering but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Industrial Engineering graduates
Industrial engineer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +12.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Industrial Production Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +2.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at WSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About WSU
- Acceptance rate: 81% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,493
- Full cost breakdown · all 84 majors · overview
Related majors at WSU
- Mechanical Engineering$94,869
- Electrical Engineering$100,944
- Civil Engineering$84,157
- Engineering—
- Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians—
WSU Industrial Engineering questions
How much do WSU Industrial Engineering graduates earn?
Industrial Engineering graduates of Wayne State University earn a median $101,990 four years after graduating and $77,815 one year after. The U.S. median for Industrial Engineering graduates across 94 colleges is $98,028.
How much debt do WSU Industrial Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Industrial Engineering graduates of Wayne State University is $24,340, about 24% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is WSU a good school for Industrial Engineering in Michigan?
On pay, Industrial Engineering graduates of Wayne State University earn $101,990 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 5 Michigan colleges ($101,990) and $3,962 above the U.S. median ($98,028). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does WSU rank for Industrial Engineering in Michigan?
Of 5 Michigan colleges reporting Industrial Engineering graduate earnings, Wayne State University ranks 3rd. The highest is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $117,930.
What jobs do Industrial Engineering graduates get?
A common career is industrial engineer, with a median wage of $104,110 in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area and $102,440 nationally. Others include industrial production managers and architectural and engineering managers.
Is WSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing WSU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Wayne State University Industrial Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/wayne-state-university/majors/industrial-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).