Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at Jackson State University

Jackson State's Industrial Production Technologies program ranks near the bottom for this field—both in Mississippi and nationally. With first-year earnings of $36,378, graduates earn roughly $21,500 less than the Mississippi median for this degree and fall in just the 10th percentile statewide. To put that gap in perspective: University of Southern Mississippi graduates in this program earn more than double what Jackson State graduates make initially. Even accounting for the 20% earnings growth to year four, Jackson State graduates still trail far behind their in-state peers.

The debt picture adds to the concern. At $30,242, graduates carry the median Mississippi debt level for this program, but they're doing so on substantially lower earnings. The 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio means students borrow nearly a full year's starting salary—manageable in theory, but problematic when that salary is already 40% below what other Mississippi programs deliver. For a family considering this as an affordable in-state option, the tuition savings may not offset the significant earnings penalty.

The reality here is stark: this program produces some of the lowest-earning graduates in a field that typically pays well. Unless your child has specific reasons to attend Jackson State—strong personal connections, unique circumstances, or specialized interests—other Mississippi schools offer dramatically better returns in this same major. The earnings gap is too wide to ignore.