What can you do with a Industrial Engineering degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

First, some facts. Of the Industrial Engineering graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Industrial Engineering graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have a higher likelihood (+6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 73%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, only 26% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Industrial Engineering graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Industrial Engineering graduate from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Industrial Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Risk Control Consultant
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Jun 2016 - Sep 2017
As a Risk Control Consultant, this job applies knowledge from industrial engineering, such as risk assessment and management techniques, directly to the field of insurance.

Risk Control Consultant II
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Oct 2017 - Aug 2019
The role of a Risk Control Consultant II continues to utilize industrial engineering principles in assessing and mitigating risks, making it highly relevant.

Senior Risk Control Consultant
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Sep 2019 - Mar 2022
As a Senior Risk Control Consultant, the responsibilities involve advanced risk analysis and management, which are core competencies derived from the industrial engineering degree.

Technical Risk Control Consultant
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Mar 2022 - Dec 2023
The Technical Risk Control Consultant position requires the application of industrial engineering methodologies to identify and evaluate technical risks, thus directly relating to the degree.

Technical Risk Control Consultant II
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Dec 2023 - Present
The role of Technical Risk Control Consultant II heavily utilizes technical and engineering skills to analyze risks, which is deeply aligned with the fundamentals of industrial engineering.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Business Administration - MBA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2020 - 2022
ABOUT

I am an experienced risk control consultant focused on improving processes to reduce organizations' overall cost of risk. I work with Liberty Mutual's large commercial customers to identify, assess, and help manage risk within their operations. I work with a variety of companies, however, the majority of my customers are in the manufacturing industry. My role also involves me helping develop other consultants in the ergonomic and manufacturing disciplines.I received both my Master's Degree in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I utilize my degrees to assess and evaluate business operations for opportunities for improvement. My current role has allowed me to develop skills in cultivating strong business relationships, leading projects, and driving continuous improvement for a variety of clients.

What jobs can you get with a Industrial Engineering degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


The most common types of jobs held by graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Industrial Engineering tend to be closely linked to roles like Continuous Improvement Leaders, Engineers in supply chain and quality assurance, and various consulting positions. It's clear that many individuals use their education to work in areas that emphasize process optimization, quality control, and project management. For instance, positions like Continuous Improvement Leader and RPM Engineer directly leverage industrial engineering principles to enhance operational efficiencies. The prevalence of roles like Quality Engineer and Operations Excellence Engineer also highlights a strong connection between their job functions and the skills acquired in their studies.

However, it's also worth noting that not every job held by these graduates falls neatly into the realm of industrial engineering. Some roles, particularly in consulting or technical fields like software development, may only use the analytical or problem-solving skills developed during their education in a more indirect way. For instance, while positions like Business Analyst at INSIGHT2PROFIT are relevant since they focus on data analysis and process improvement, others, like the Associate at PwC, do not apply industrial engineering knowledge extensively. Overall, many graduates find rewarding roles that align with their studies, but some veer off into areas that don’t fully capitalize on their specialized training in industrial engineering.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Industrial Engineering graduates (this is across all Industrial Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign):

What kind of career trajectories do Industrial Engineering graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from the Industrial Engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seem to have strong career trajectories, particularly in fields that align well with what they studied. Many of these graduates land their first jobs in roles that directly relate to their industrial engineering skills, such as continuous improvement positions, quality engineering, or various engineering consulting roles. For instance, those who graduated in the early 2010s often started at companies like DHL Supply Chain and Eaton, quickly moving up to more senior roles within a few years. This early work experience appears to serve them well, as they transition into roles that require greater responsibility and expertise.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see that many graduates have moved into leadership positions or specialized roles within their industries. They often progress into managerial roles, like program managers or senior consultants, and some even make their way to the director level, especially in firms like PwC or Deloitte. There’s even a mix of those who venture into tech and data analytics, such as working at Amazon Web Services or Salesforce, which highlights the versatility of an industrial engineering degree. Overall, it seems like these graduates are finding successful careers that are not only relevant to their education but also offer room for growth and further specialization.

How hard is a Industrial Engineering degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign can be pretty challenging, but it's definitely doable if you're motivated and willing to put in the effort. The program covers a mix of engineering principles, mathematics, and systems design, which means you'll have to tackle some rigorous coursework, especially in areas like statistics and optimization. Many students find it tough but rewarding, as it involves solving real-world problems and working on projects that require critical thinking and creativity. Overall, it’s about average in difficulty compared to other engineering degrees, so if you love problem-solving and can manage your time well, you'll likely do just fine!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering.

Do Industrial Engineering graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tend to make good money?

So, looking at the job history of these Industrial Engineering grads from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it seems like they're doing pretty well financially. Most of them have steadily climbed the career ladder, moving from positions like interns and entry-level roles to more senior titles like “Senior Engineer” or “Manager,” which usually come with decent salaries. For example, those who ended up at big companies like Amazon Web Services and Salesforce are likely earning quite a bit, especially as they take on leadership roles. The pay for positions in fields like engineering and consulting tends to be pretty solid, particularly because these jobs often offer strong career growth potential. Overall, it kind of looks like these folks are on a path to making some good money!

What buzzwords do Industrial Engineering graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering (this is across all Industrial Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Industrial Engineering?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Industrial Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Iowa State University 88 11
North Carolina State University 87 12
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 87 15
Texas A&M University 83 39
Purdue University 81 36
University of Central Florida 80 23
Georgia Institute of Technology 80 59
Penn State University 79 16
Texas Tech University 79 10
University of Pittsburgh 79 15
University of Washington 78 12
University of Arkansas 78 11
University of Wisconsin-Madison 76 13
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 73 15
West Virginia University 71 19
Clemson University 69 23
University of Florida 64 11