Compare 30 Industrial Engineering. programs in the South. Average earnings: $79,183.
With top graduates earning $101,070, Industrial Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $22K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Georgia Tech's Industrial Engineering program leads with graduates earning $101,070, while the University of Arkansas follows at $94,760. Despite Arkansas having a 72% acceptance rate compared to Georgia Tech's 16%, the earnings gap is just $6K—demonstrating how regional publics compete with selective institutions in program outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Houston graduates borrow $18,194 and face just a 3.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families considering parent loans, UT Arlington leads with a 6.9% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $101,070
Strong outcomes ($94,760) with 72% acceptance
3.7% payment burden | Excellent
6.9% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $101,070 | 395 | $21,672 | Excellent | $32,216 | Good | |
| #2 | University Of ArkansasPublic | $94,760 | 68 | $21,500 | Excellent | $28,086 | Good |
| #3 | $92,826 | 184 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $92,373 | 88 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | |
| #5 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $91,341 | 76 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Good |
| #6 | University Of HoustonPublic | $90,094 | 38 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Excellent |
| #7 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $90,074 | 39 | $18,000 | Excellent | $17,000 | Excellent |
| #8 | $89,929 | 52 | $20,654 | Excellent | $31,890 | Good | |
| #9 | $88,458 | 151 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Good | |
| #10 | West Virginia UniversityPublic | $86,715 | 101 | $22,500 | Excellent | $32,980 | Manageable |
| #11 | $85,252 | 25 | $17,527 | Excellent | $12,313 | Excellent | |
| #12 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $83,583 | 159 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,463 | Manageable |
| #13 | $81,839 | 37 | $27,000 | Excellent | $20,004 | Good | |
| #14 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $81,475 | 36 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,500 | Good |
| #15 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $80,782 | 130 | $21,000 | Excellent | $43,605 | Manageable |
| #16 | $79,859 | 55 | $22,142 | Excellent | $25,567 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $78,467 | 145 | $18,190 | Excellent | $16,036 | Good | |
| #18 | $77,935 | 49 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Manageable | |
| #19 | University Of LouisvillePublic | $77,274 | 51 | $20,500 | Excellent | $20,717 | Good |
| #20 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $76,230 | 46 | $17,500 | Excellent | $37,267 | Manageable |
| #21 | $73,949 | 64 | $20,500 | Excellent | $25,645 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $73,234 | 80 | $17,988 | Excellent | $15,541 | Good | |
| #23 | $69,486 | 49 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Challenging | |
| #24 | Morgan State UniversityPublic | $69,338 | 30 | $27,250 | Excellent | $22,000 | Manageable |
| #25 | $65,739 | 15 | $22,135 | Excellent | $18,071 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
