Best colleges for Industrial Engineering in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are the top bachelor's Industrial Engineering programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Northwestern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $89,811, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University and University of Illinois Chicago award the most Industrial Engineering degrees in Illinois: 95, 94 and 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 Illinois colleges offer Industrial Engineering and award 366 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 6 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 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,811 | 94 | 95% | $14,799 | $17,912 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,313 | 95 | 85% | — | $22,330 |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,092 | 58 | 57% | — | — |
| 4 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,112 | 42 | 49% | — | $23,750 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,281 | 61 | 62% | — | $22,247 |
| 6 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $68,166 | 16 | 76% | $21,768 | $25,788 |
Colleges awarding the most Industrial Engineering degrees in Illinois
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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 95 | $78,313 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 94 | $89,811 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 61 | $57,281 |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 58 | $73,092 |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 42 | $72,112 |
| 6 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | 16 | $68,166 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112).
Top skills
What Industrial Engineers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Industrial Engineering programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Industrial Engineering degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (95 graduates a year), Northwestern University (94 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Chicago (61 graduates a year) award the most Industrial Engineering degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 Illinois colleges offer Industrial Engineering.
What is the best college for Industrial Engineering in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Northwestern University leads among bachelor's Industrial Engineering programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $89,811, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 95 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Industrial Engineering program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northwestern University tops the list at $89,811. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Industrial Engineers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Industrial Engineers in Illinois is $105,820 (median $100,540), across about 18,640 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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