Best colleges for Industrial Engineering in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Southern California, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and University of San Diego are the top bachelor's Industrial Engineering programs in California by graduate earnings. University of Southern California leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $87,807, College Scorecard. University of Southern California, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and San Jose State University award the most Industrial Engineering degrees in California: 85, 81 and 53 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 California colleges offer Industrial Engineering and award 307 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Industrial Engineering is a dynamic field focused on the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems that encompass people, materials, information, equipment, and energy. This program is ideal for students interested in…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $87,807 | 85 | 92% | $26,873 | $18,250 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,226 | 81 | 86% | — | $19,691 |
| 3 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,644 | 23 | 84% | $26,035 | — |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,110 | 51 | 68% | — | $25,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Industrial Engineering degrees in California
Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 85 | $87,807 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 81 | $87,226 |
| 3 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 53 | Not reported |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 51 | $75,110 |
| 5 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit | 23 | $80,644 |
| 6 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public | 14 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112).
Top skills
What Industrial Engineers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Industrial Engineering programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Industrial Engineering degrees?+
University of Southern California (85 graduates a year), California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (81 graduates a year) and San Jose State University (53 graduates a year) award the most Industrial Engineering degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 California colleges offer Industrial Engineering.
What is the best college for Industrial Engineering in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of Southern California leads among bachelor's Industrial Engineering programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $87,807, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and University of San Diego follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern California is the largest, with 85 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Industrial Engineering program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Southern California tops the list at $87,807. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Industrial Engineers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Industrial Engineers in California is $125,850 (median $124,600), across about 32,680 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Industrial Engineering program?+
Industrial Engineering is a dynamic field focused on the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems that encompass people, materials, information, equipment, and energy. This program is ideal for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Industrial Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +11.0% growth with around 25,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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