Compare 17 Industrial Technology/Technician. programs in the South. Average earnings: $63,078.
With top graduates earning $80,134, Industrial Technology/Technician stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $17K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Lamar University's Industrial Technology/Technician program leads with graduates earning $80,134, well above the $63,078 average across 17 Southern programs. Northern Kentucky University follows at $77,721, with University of Southern Mississippi close behind at $75,493—demonstrating how regional publics dominate this practical field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Lamar University graduates borrow $21,250 and face just a 5.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their $80K post-grad income, with the entire debt clearable in about 3 months of salary.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $80,134 | 49 | $21,250 | Excellent | $11,359 | Good |
| #2 | $77,721 | 37 | $23,000 | Excellent | $14,877 | Good | |
| #3 | $75,493 | 41 | $22,500 | Excellent | $14,301 | Good | |
| #4 | $72,494 | 31 | $22,095 | Excellent | $18,310 | Good | |
| #5 | $71,921 | 57 | $19,606 | Excellent | $17,125 | Good | |
| #6 | $68,154 | 115 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Manageable | |
| #7 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $66,262 | 205 | $22,750 | Excellent | $19,710 | Manageable |
| #8 | $65,953 | 35 | $24,202 | Excellent | $11,016 | Good | |
| #9 | $63,307 | 89 | $22,142 | Excellent | $25,567 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $62,991 | 31 | $25,000 | Good | $11,900 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $61,953 | 92 | $22,902 | Excellent | $13,655 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $61,808 | 33 | $22,934 | Good | $14,224 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $59,941 | 53 | $22,113 | Good | $10,611 | Manageable | |
| #14 | $59,417 | 10 | $21,983 | Good | $19,433 | Manageable | |
| #15 | $46,977 | 39 | $27,000 | Manageable | $20,004 | High | |
| #16 | Jackson State UniversityPublic | $43,802 | 23 | $30,470 | Challenging | $15,000 | High |
| #17 | $33,993 | 18 | $23,833 | High | $19,000 | High |
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 →
