Industrial Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

NC State's industrial engineering graduates start at $81,055—higher than the national median but trailing North Carolina A&T, the state's top program, by about $2,000. While this ranks in the 40th percentile for NC, that context is misleading: with only three schools offering this major statewide, the competition is limited and the differences are marginal. More importantly, these graduates are outearning 93% of industrial engineering programs nationally, which is the comparison that matters most for parents evaluating a $22,309 investment.

The debt picture here is remarkably favorable. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.28, graduates owe less than three months of their first year's salary—well below both national and state debt levels for this major. Four years out, earnings climb to $92,373, representing solid 14% growth that suggests these graduates are advancing into engineering roles with real responsibility. At a school with a 40% acceptance rate, this combination of strong starting salaries and minimal debt load makes the program accessible to a broader range of students than elite engineering schools.

For parents, this is straightforward: NC State delivers top-tier industrial engineering outcomes at a price point that won't burden your graduate. The fact that one North Carolina school edges slightly ahead shouldn't distract from the national picture, where this program consistently outperforms.