WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-13% vs national median318 grads tracked

Industrial Engineering at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 50th of 59 bachelor's programs in Industrial Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$67,402
middle 50%: $54,415 – $81,671
Median · 5 years out
$89,521
middle 50%: $73,932 – $103,597
Median · 10 years out
$114,882
middle 50%: $90,366 – $140,881

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Industrial Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Industrial Engineering earn a median $67,402 one year after graduating, rising to $114,882 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% below the national median of $102,537 for this field, ranking 50th of 59 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
4.6 yrs
≈ $4,961 total interest

Same major at other universities

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$91,143 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$91,050 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$90,824 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$90,454 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$90,020 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Platteville
$90,000 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Crookston
$89,177 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$88,896 · 5 yrs out
Youngstown State University
$88,299 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$88,240 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Tech University
$87,922 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$87,772 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out

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