Industrial Engineering at St. Mary's University

The estimated $24,417 in debt for this industrial engineering degree represents a manageable load—about 36 cents owed for every dollar earned in the first year. That's a reasonable starting point, though based on comparable programs across Texas, first-year earnings around $67,400 fall roughly $7,300 short of the national median for industrial engineering graduates. Still, the debt-to-earnings picture suggests graduates could feasibly handle loan payments while building their careers.

What complicates the assessment here is that Texas offers some of the nation's strongest industrial engineering programs, with UT Arlington and University of Houston graduates earning over $76,000 in their first year—nearly $9,000 more than what similar programs suggest for St. Mary's graduates. This gap matters in a field where your degree's competitive positioning can influence starting salary negotiations and early career trajectory. At the same time, St. Mary's smaller program may offer advantages in faculty access and personalized attention that aren't captured in salary data.

For families weighing this investment, the core question is whether the estimated earnings gap reflects St. Mary's distinct student population and mission, or signals a meaningful difference in employer perception and recruitment. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, St. Mary's serves students who might face different post-graduation circumstances than peers at flagship state schools. The debt load appears sustainable, but understanding why earnings estimates run below Texas's strongest programs—and whether that gap narrows over time—would be critical before committing.