Industrial Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Industrial engineering programs typically lead to strong early earnings, and SIUE's outcome of $73,092 places it right in the middle of the pack among Illinois schools—above programs at Bradley and UIC, though notably behind Northwestern and UIUC's elite offerings. The estimated debt burden of around $22,330, based on comparable IL programs, translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31, which is manageable for an engineering graduate and slightly better than the national median for this major.

What makes this program interesting is the value proposition for students who may not have access to Illinois' most selective engineering schools. With a 97% admission rate, SIUE offers an accessible path into industrial engineering that appears to deliver solid results—the first-year earnings sit at the 60th percentile statewide and only trail the national median by about $1,600. For families concerned about both debt and employability, the combination of moderate borrowing and respectable starting salaries suggests graduates can handle their loans while establishing themselves in the field.

The caveat: these debt figures are estimates from peer programs, not actual data from SIUE's industrial engineering graduates specifically. Your child's actual borrowing could vary. Still, even if debt ran somewhat higher, the strong starting salaries typical of industrial engineering provide cushion. This looks like a practical option for students seeking an engineering degree without the admissions barriers or higher costs that often come with more competitive programs.