Best colleges for Manufacturing Engineering in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bradley University, Northwestern University and Illinois Institute of Technology award the most Manufacturing Engineering degrees and certificates in Illinois: 23, 20 and 6 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 3 Illinois colleges offer Manufacturing Engineering and award 49 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Manufacturing Engineering is a specialized branch of engineering focused on the design and optimization of manufacturing processes. This program is ideal for students interested in applying engineering principles to develop tools,…
Top institution, 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 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,488 | 23 | 76% | $21,768 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Manufacturing Engineering degrees in Illinois
Top 3 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | 23 | $67,488 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 3 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
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 Manufacturing Engineering programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Manufacturing Engineering degrees?+
Bradley University (23 graduates a year), Northwestern University (20 graduates a year) and Illinois Institute of Technology (6 graduates a year) award the most Manufacturing Engineering degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 3 Illinois colleges offer Manufacturing Engineering.
Which Manufacturing Engineering program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bradley University tops the list at $67,488. 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 Manufacturing Engineering program?+
Manufacturing Engineering is a specialized branch of engineering focused on the design and optimization of manufacturing processes. This program is ideal for students interested in applying engineering principles to develop tools,…
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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