Est. Earnings (1yr)
$74,709
Est. from national median (93 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,417
Est. from national median (14 programs)

Analysis

Industrial engineers typically launch into solid careers, and peer programs across the country suggest first-year earnings around $75,000โ€”a healthy start for any bachelor's degree. The estimated debt load of $24,000 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, well below the 1.0 threshold that signals potential repayment challenges. For context, this aligns closely with the national median debt for industrial engineering programs.

What complicates this picture is that Colorado Christian is one of only two schools in the state offering this major, and neither has reportable graduate outcome data. That means these estimates come from national peer programs rather than actual results from CCU's specific curriculum, job placement network, or employer relationships in the Denver metro area. The quality and reach of a small program's industry connections can dramatically affect outcomes in engineering fields.

The fundamentals look reasonable: comparable programs produce graduates who can comfortably manage their debt on a typical entry-level engineering salary. But without actual data from CCU graduates, you're making assumptions about how well this particular program prepares students and connects them to Colorado's aerospace, manufacturing, and tech sectors. Request placement statistics and talk to current students about internship opportunities before committing.

Where Colorado Christian University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all industrial engineering bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Industrial Engineering bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more โ†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood$39,266$74,709*โ€”$24,417*โ€”
SUNY Maritime CollegeThroggs Neck$8,540$91,470*$110,403$24,989*0.27
Northwestern UniversityEvanston$65,997$89,811*$107,105$17,912*0.20
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta$11,764$87,826*$101,070$21,750*0.25
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles$68,237$87,807*$114,688$18,250*0.21
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo$11,075$87,226*$103,886$19,691*0.23
National Medianโ€”$74,709*โ€”$24,889*0.33
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with industrial engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Engineers

Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.

$101,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists

Design objects, facilities, and environments to optimize human well-being and overall system performance, applying theory, principles, and data regarding the relationship between humans and respective technology. Investigate and analyze characteristics of human behavior and performance as it relates to the use of technology.

$101,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Validation Engineers

Design or plan protocols for equipment or processes to produce products meeting internal and external purity, safety, and quality requirements.

$101,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Manufacturing Engineers

Design, integrate, or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. May work with commercial or industrial designers to refine product designs to increase producibility and decrease costs.

$101,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Colorado Christian University, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 93 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.