Industrial Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

UMass Amherst's industrial engineering graduates earn about $70,500 in their first year—roughly $6,500 below what typical Massachusetts IE grads make and $4,200 below the national median. Among the four schools offering this program in Massachusetts, UMass sits at the 40th percentile, trailing both WPI and Northeastern by $7,000 or more. That gap is significant in a field known for strong, stable starting salaries. The debt load of $27,000 is reasonable and close to both state and national averages, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38.

The concerning part isn't the debt—it's the earnings. Industrial engineering typically offers some of the best starting salaries among engineering disciplines, but UMass grads are entering at the 27th percentile nationally. For context, this is a program where the national median is nearly $75,000, meaning most IE programs are placing students into higher-paying positions right out of the gate.

Before making a decision, recognize that this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could be skewing the numbers. However, if your child is considering UMass for industrial engineering and comparing it to WPI or Northeastern, they should understand they're likely trading $7,000-plus in starting salary. For Massachusetts residents paying in-state tuition, that trade might make sense financially. For out-of-state families, this program doesn't offer the earnings advantage you'd want to justify the higher cost.