Industrial Production Technology at Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

one of the larger campuses at 47,486 students in The Woodlands, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,567 place Lone Star College System below the $55,266 national median for Industrial Production Technology — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 100.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Industrial Production Technology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Industrial Production Technology's career paths, with 27% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 40% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #30 of 47 Industrial Production Technology programs, Lone Star College System falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $57,377 show a 57% jump from the $36,567 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

Industrial Production Technology offers 30 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
62
Score
64
High End
Earnings $36,567/yr (-34% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (73% shielded)
Job Market Large (69,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$639K
11.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
103.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
5 of 5
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$6,180
Out-of-state: $17,400
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,377
57% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Industrial Production Technology graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390 +1.5% 76%
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians $77,180 +0.6% 59%
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians $64,790 +1.7% 61%
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
$77,390
+1.5% growth 76% AI-proof
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
$77,180
+0.6% growth 59% AI-proof
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
$64,790
+1.7% growth 61% AI-proof

View all 5 career paths with full salary data →

Industrial Production Technology Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Industrial Production Technology — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Lone Star College System and 46 other schools.

Read the full Industrial Production Technology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Industrial Production Technology Overview

Industrial Production Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Lone Star College System

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Lone Star College System's Industrial Production Technology program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Lone Star College System trails the majority of Industrial Production Technology programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Why are Industrial Production Technology earnings lower at Lone Star College System?
Starting salary is one data point. If Lone Star College System's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Industrial Production Technology graduates?
If Lone Star College System's tuition gives you pause, consider that 30 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Industrial Production Technology. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How sensitive is Industrial Production Technology to AI disruption?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
Will Industrial Production Technology graduates from Lone Star College System find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Industrial Production Technology have roughly 69,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Demand is driven by ongoing digital transformation and technology adoption.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →