Best colleges for Industrial Engineering
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Industrial Engineering by graduate earnings are Northwestern University ($89,811), Georgia Institute of Technology ($87,826) and University of Southern California ($87,807), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): $89,811, 94 graduates a year
- Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA): $87,826, 461 graduates a year
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA): $87,807, 85 graduates a year
- California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, CA): $87,226, 81 graduates a year
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI): $86,476, 263 graduates a year
Compare 137 U.S. colleges offering Industrial Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 42 states.
Industrial Engineering programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $75,110 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 14.35 and the Industrial Engineers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Industrial Engineering programs
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 optimizing complex processes and enhancing productivity and quality in various industries. It combines principles from engineering with insights from social and physical sciences to address real-world challenges.
Students in Industrial Engineering will develop core skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and strong mathematical abilities. Coursework typically includes topics in engineering and technology, production and processing, and design, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary to analyze and improve operational systems.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,811 | 94 | 95% | $14,799 | $17,912 |
| 2 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,826 | 461 | 94% | — | $21,750 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $87,807 | 85 | 92% | $26,873 | $18,250 |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,226 | 81 | 86% | — | $19,691 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $86,476 | 263 | 93% | — | $20,306 |
| 6 | Kettering University Flint, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,105 | 20 | 71% | $30,880 | — |
| 7 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $83,427 | 44 | 57% | — | $31,000 |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,437 | 251 | 86% | — | $22,870 |
| 9 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,379 | 380 | 83% | — | $19,427 |
| 10 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,142 | 64 | 88% | $26,912 | $23,834 |
| 11 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,055 | 136 | 85% | — | $22,309 |
| 12 | Ohio State University Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,876 | 157 | 88% | — | $21,875 |
| 13 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,644 | 23 | 84% | $26,035 | — |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,435 | 147 | 90% | — | $23,577 |
| 15 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,894 | 38 | 75% | — | $26,512 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,975 | 203 | 86% | — | $25,000 |
| 17 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,501 | 60 | 84% | — | $26,925 |
| 18 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,425 | 39 | 70% | — | $25,437 |
| 19 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,313 | 95 | 85% | — | $22,330 |
| 20 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,994 | 24 | 90% | $32,926 | $26,254 |
| 21 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,850 | 157 | 68% | — | $19,375 |
| 22 | Wayne State University Detroit, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,815 | 46 | 58% | — | $24,340 |
| 23 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,724 | 46 | 71% | — | $25,000 |
| 24 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,692 | 29 | 83% | — | $24,889 |
| 25 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,169 | 24 | 58% | — | $29,750 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · Certificate | $76,033 | 43 | 71% | — | $27,000 |
Specializations within Industrial Engineering
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 14.35 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 42 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2112, Industrial Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Industrial Engineering can expect a promising career outlook, with an anticipated growth rate of 11% and approximately 25,200 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $101,140, and a typical educational requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Industrial Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.35.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.35 (Industrial Engineering) maps to 4 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-3051 | Industrial Production Managers |
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 17-2112 | Industrial Engineersprimary |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Industrial Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
- Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
- Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.
- Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
- Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
Common questions
What is Industrial Engineering?+
Industrial Engineering focuses on optimizing complex systems and processes to improve efficiency and productivity.
What skills will I learn?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What are the career prospects?+
The field is growing rapidly, with a projected 11% growth and 25,200 new job openings each year.
What is the average salary?+
The median salary for Industrial Engineers is $101,140.
How much do Industrial Engineering graduates earn?+
Industrial Engineering graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $75,110, College Scorecard (2019); the Industrial Engineers occupation pays about $109,900 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Industrial Engineering?+
Industrial Engineering maps to CIP 14.35 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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