Industrial Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso

UTEP's industrial engineering program sits at the 10th percentile among Texas programs for a reason: first-year earnings of $45,467 trail both the state median ($67,407) and national median ($74,709) by roughly $20,000-$30,000. That's a substantial gap compared to programs at UT Arlington, University of Houston, or Texas A&M, where graduates start above $74,000. However, the 37% earnings jump to $62,454 by year four shows graduates gain ground steadily, and the exceptionally low debt load of $15,552—far below Texas's $22,503 median—keeps the financial risk minimal.

The real story here is accessibility meeting affordability. With 61% of students on Pell grants and 100% admission, UTEP serves students who might not access flagship engineering programs, and it does so with debt levels in the 95th percentile nationally (meaning only 5% of programs nationwide burden students with less debt). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 means graduates owe just over four months of first-year salary, manageable even with the lower starting pay.

For families prioritizing minimal debt and accepting a trade-off in immediate earning power, UTEP delivers. But if your child has admission options at UT Arlington or similar programs, those extra $30,000 in starting salary would overcome any debt differential within two years. UTEP works best for students where affordability and access matter more than maximizing day-one earnings.