Indiana University ranks 11th nationally among public colleges in engineering salaries based on new college rankings from Burning Glass Institute, a non-profit that analyzes employment trends.
A Wall Street Journal story showed Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering Intelligent Systems Engineering graduates had an average annual salary of $101,804 for the 2019-20 academic year. That was the best of any Big Ten school, and $11,000 above the median graduate’s annual salary.
“Luddy School students and graduates do amazing things every day, and companies around the country have noticed,” Dean Joanna Millunchick said. “Our innovative approach to engineering prepares students to pursue the most in-demand jobs tackling some of the biggest challenges facing society today. Nearly every industry relies on intelligent systems. Companies recognize the value in our focus on AI and computing in the hands-on designing, building, and simulating of systems.”
The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, has a long history of hiring Luddy School graduates. Charles Colglazier, Crane-Indiana University liaison through the Chief Technology Office, said Luddy graduates’ knowledge and skills are critical in a fast-changing technology world fueled by Artificial Intelligence. He praised the Luddy School for providing education and research from the base theoretical levels of AI development to the practical levels of applications and governing policy.
“Luddy graduates are well-equipped to make meaningful contributions to NSWC Crane’s mission,” he said. “They arrive prepared to tackle an integrated world where software, AI, microelectronics, cybersecurity and cyber-physical systems all interconnect to deliver innovative solutions and readiness to our nation.”
Ethan Nguyen’s ISE degree helped him land an electrical design associate engineer position at Honda.
“The Luddy School and ISE prepared me by focusing more on building connections between new content and what I already knew rather than just for the test,” Nguyen said. “Paired with the broad multidisciplinary experience of ISE, it allows me to be an effective team member from recognizing possible solutions to developing new efficient workflows."
According to the Wall Street Journal, the rankings analyze the salary impact of undergraduate schools on graduates who go into engineering, as well as fields such as law, accounting and finance.
Engineering rankings include fields such as mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil, environmental and aeronautical engineers, but not computer software engineers.
Burning Glass used data about experience and pay from Lightcast, a labor-market data firm, and Glassdoor, a company-rating website.
Rebecca Conway Winkle, Intelligent Systems Engineering undergraduate academic adviser, credits a rigorous academic program that enables students to emerge with resilience and a wide range of knowledge in systems, programming, teamwork and innovation. The small size of ISE classes creates more personalized student support.
“Our students are given many opportunities to work with faculty outside of class on faculty research projects,” she said. “The ability to do research as an undergraduate is key to making a student stand out in today’s job market.When you combine the rigor of the program with personalized student support and multiple opportunities for research, you are going to graduate a student who excels in life. That’s why our students are so successful.”
University of California-Berkeley graduates were first among public colleges at $110,513. The overall top earning graduates were from Harvard, at $130,119.