Industrial Engineering at University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · Public · Certificate
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
68
Strong Growth
67
Base Case
61
Conservative
Earnings
$76,033/yr (0% vs median)
AI-Proof
Moderate (57% shielded)
Job Market
Large (60,900 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Industrial Engineering graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $872K | $762K | $587K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 66.0x | 57.7x | 44.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 26.1x | 22.8x | 17.6x |
| Viable Career Paths | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 68 | 67 | 61 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$13,212
Out-of-state: $33,406
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,459
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Career Paths
Where Industrial Engineering graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 60,900 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and engineering managers | $167,740 | 14,500 | +3.8% | 59% |
| Industrial production managers | $121,440 | 17,100 | +1.9% | 66% |
| Engineering teachers, postsecondary | $106,120 | 4,100 | +8.1% | 50% |
| Industrial engineers | $101,140 | 25,200 | +11.0% | 52% |
Compare & Explore
Industrial Engineering Overview
Other Majors at University of Kentucky
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Industrial Engineering at University of Kentucky?
This program scores 67/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 61 (conservative) to 68 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Industrial Engineering?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Industrial Engineering graduates retain 4 of 4 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $586,912 (conservative) to $871,632 (strong growth).
How many job openings are there for Industrial Engineering graduates?
The career paths mapped to Industrial Engineering have roughly 60,900 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Industrial Engineering at University of Kentucky worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 57.7x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 44.4x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.