Industrial Engineering at Ohio University-Main Campus

Ohio University's industrial engineering program sits in an unusual position: while it ranks dead-average among Ohio's nine programs (60th percentile), it falls in the bottom quarter nationally. That $70,199 starting salary lags the national median by roughly $4,500, though it matches what most Ohio programs deliver—only Ohio State meaningfully outperforms at nearly $81,000. The modest 6% earnings growth to $74,580 by year four suggests steady but unspectacular career progression.

The debt picture offers more reassurance. At $27,000, graduates borrow less than three-quarters of national industrial engineering students, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 that should be manageable on an engineer's salary. Within Ohio, this level of borrowing is typical for the program.

Here's the key limitation: this program graduates fewer than 30 students annually, which makes these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs. If you're comparing Ohio schools specifically and cost is similar, Ohio State clearly delivers stronger outcomes. But if your child is already set on Ohio University for other reasons—campus fit, location, or scholarship offers—this program won't saddle them with excessive debt, even if it doesn't match the earning power of top-tier industrial engineering programs elsewhere.