Est. Earnings (1yr)
$68,582
Est. from IN median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$20,500
Est. from IN median (3 programs)

Analysis

Indiana's industrial production technology programs cluster around $68,500 in first-year earnings, and this Purdue Northwest degree appears positioned right in that range. With an estimated debt load of $20,500—below both the state and national medians for this field—the financial framework looks manageable. A 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would theoretically need less than four months of gross income to cover their student loans, well within reasonable territory.

The trajectory matters here. Four years out, the median jumps to $77,273, suggesting this field rewards experience and on-the-job learning. That's typical for production technology roles where technical expertise compounds over time. While Purdue Northwest lacks the immediate earning power of Indiana State's $78,000 outcomes, it substantially outpaces the $44,000 figures from Vincennes, putting it in the middle tier of Indiana's offerings. Nationally, these estimated earnings exceed the typical $59,822 median by nearly $9,000.

For a production-focused degree, this financial profile works. The modest debt paired with above-average starting pay creates room for young professionals to build careers without drowning in loan payments. Just remember these figures draw from similar Indiana programs, not verified outcomes from Purdue Northwest's specific graduates—the actual results could vary based on the school's industry connections and curriculum strengths.

Where Purdue University Northwest Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all industrial production technologies/technicians bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Purdue University Northwest$77,273
Central Connecticut State University$74,889$84,550+13%
Weber State University$75,281$84,292+12%
Purdue University-Main Campus$68,582$79,638+16%
Vincennes University$44,323$47,278+7%

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (9 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Purdue University NorthwestHammond$8,419$68,582*$77,273$20,500*
Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute$9,992$78,215*$20,500*0.26
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$68,582*$79,638$21,345*0.31
Vincennes UniversityVincennes$6,886$44,323*$47,278$20,228*0.46
National Median$59,822*$24,250*0.41
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with industrial production technologies/technicians graduates

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

$77,180/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; and clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.

$51,180/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other

All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.

Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.

Photonics Technicians

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

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 Purdue University Northwest, approximately 28% 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 median of 3 similar programs in IN. Actual outcomes may vary.