Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Schools are assigned a value from 1-100, where 100 is best for students from households earning up to $30,000. This value is multiplied by the percentage of the school’s student body that received a Pell Grant, to calculate the economic mobility score. A higher score is better. Read the full explanation
The percentage of a school’s student body that has received a Pell Grant.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Industrial engineering students learn all about how people interact with complex systems. The ultimate “big-picture engineers,” their studies cover both hard sciences like engineering, statistics, and physics, as well as social sciences, management, and human behavior.
Read on to discover the best colleges for industrial engineering in 2024 – and what makes this major such a great choice economically.
Is industrial engineering a good major?
In terms of value for money, investing in an industrial engineering degree is one of the best choices you can make in college. In fact, industrial engineering is in the top 5% of all college majors according to our economic score metric, which uses net price and earnings data to evaluate college degrees based on return on investment (ROI).
Just 4 years after leaving college, industrial engineering majors earn an average of 69% more than the average bachelor’s holder according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Industrial engineering is a great major for people fascinated by how people interact with the systems, processes, and machines around them. You’ll get to combine your tech skills with your shrewd knowledge of what makes people tick. Interested in project management? Industrial engineers are highly prized across all sectors – from healthcare to urban planning.
According to a 2024 study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, industrial engineers have an underemployment rate of just 24.6%.
Underemployment is when you have a job, just not one you need your degree for.
Use our college major comparison tool below to compare industrial engineering with other majors – like mechanical engineering, business administration, or computer engineering.
Click on a degree card to reveal more information.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
$29,003
PAYBACK
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
1.9
ECONOMIC SCORE
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
We ranked all accredited industrial engineering bachelor’s programs in the U.S. that are registered with the National Center for Education Statistics’ IPEDS tool (under CIP code 14.35).
We evaluated 90 bachelor’s programs and ranked them by value for money, as reflected by our economic score metric. The lower the economic score, the better.
Industrial engineering programs with a low economic score provide the optimal combination of affordability and high earnings after graduation.
Note that our cost figures relate to net cost, which is the average amount paid by students after financial aid and including room, board, and other expenses.
All data on net cost and post-graduation economic outcomes is sourced from IPEDS and College Scorecard.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,450
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$90,074
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate84%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a large public university in Tallahassee, the state capital. It is one of Florida’s oldest universities.
The FSU industrial engineering program combines mathematical, physical, and social sciences with the principles and methods of engineering. Students learn to optimize industrial systems, manage manufacturing systems, and oversee scientific activities and processes.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$14,588
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$101,070
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate92%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech, is a highly selective public research university in Atlanta, Georgia.
The H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers a highly prestigious Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. Students can choose between multiple concentrations, including analytics & data science, economic & financial systems, operations research, quality & statistics, supply chain engineering, and more. Seniors complete a design project.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$9,949
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$78,467
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate78%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Central Florida is a public research university in Orange County, Florida, in the Orlando area. Its campus features a picturesque lake and many acres of woodland.
UCF’s Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering (BSIE) is offered through the Department of Engineering and Management Systems. Courses offered include human engineering, decision support systems for industrial engineers, systems simulation, thermodynamics, principles of electrical engineering, and many more. Students also complete a capstone design project.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$14,000
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$92,621
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate81%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Purdue University is a public research university in Indiana, located in the happening college town of West Lafayette.
Students of its popular Industrial Engineering program learn all about designing, improving, and setting up integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment, and energy. The major focuses not only on engineering, but also on mathematics, behavioral sciences, and management.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$16,109
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$95,066
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate88%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, or simply Illinois) is a large public research university in east-central Illinois. It is home to the fourth-largest university library in the country.
U of I’s Department of Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering has 2 degrees for undergraduates: the BS in Industrial Engineering and the BS in Systems Engineering and Design.
Industrial Engineering students learn to design, develop, improve, and manage systems. Students can choose 1 of 7 track options: computational methods in IE, economics and finance, human factors, industrial engineering fundamentals, operations research, quality engineering, and supply chain, manufacturing & logistics.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$13,900
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$90,094
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate66%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Houston (UH or simply Houston) is a public university in Texas’s largest city.
Its bachelor’s-level industrial engineering program teaches students to optimize products and processes through a deep understanding of how people, machines, materials, information, and energy interact.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$12,347
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$86,715
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate63%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
West Virginia University (WVU) is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Its B.S. in Industrial Engineering is the best in the state. Graduates learn to solve complex engineering problems using the principles of engineering, science, and math. Students also come away with an in-depth understanding of how to engineer solutions that take into consideration public health, safety, and welfare, as well as cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$21,096
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$110,403
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate73%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$16,792
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$94,917
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate94%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (UMich or just Michigan) is a highly prestigious public research university. It is often considered a “Public Ivy” due to its academic rigor and selectivity.
It offers a rigorous Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. Students learn to optimize the performance of complex systems using data science and human systems integration. This interdisciplinary engineering program enables students to find work in many industries, including automation, business consulting, medical supply, the automobile industry, public administration, and many more.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$9,203
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$73,234
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate77%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
University of South Florida (USF) is a large public university based in the Tampa area.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$12,817
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$86,497
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate69%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Arizona State University (ASU) is a public research university in Phoenix and one of the largest universities in the country.
Its BSE in Industrial Engineering teaches students to design, improve, and operate integrated systems of people, materials, information, equipment, and energy. Graduates go on to work in banking, government, healthcare, hospitality, management consulting, manufacturing, and many other industries.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$16,050
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$94,760
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate69%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Arkansas is a public research university in Fayetteville, a college town in the northwest corner of the state.
The B.S. in Industrial Engineering gives students a solid foundation in math, science, social sciences, engineering science, and engineering design, enabling them to solve complex problems in government, industry, and society, as well as many other sectors.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$13,404
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$88,806
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate84%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Washington (UW) is a large public research university in Seattle’s buzzing University District. It has additional campuses in nearby Tacoma and Bothell. Due to its academic reputation, it is often considered a Public Ivy.
It offers a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering that teaches students to design, develop, test, and evaluate various systems. Beyond teaching technical skills, the program encourages students to consider the societal impacts of their work.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$16,834
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$95,113
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate89%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Wisconsin in Madison is a prestigious public university, often designated a “Public Ivy” due to its rigorous academic standards.
Its B.S. in Industrial Engineering is one of the best in the Midwest. Industrial engineering students learn to work at the intersection of engineering, people, and business, using science and math to solve complex problems.
Coursework focuses on 4 areas: engineering analytics and operations research; healthcare systems engineering; human factors and ergonomics; and manufacturing and supply chain management.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$17,953
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$95,405
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate82%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Ohio State University, or OSU, is a public research university in Columbus, the capital and largest city in the state.
It offers a well-regarded Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering that prepares students to design, analyze, and improve the operations of complex systems. These systems could be consumer products, pieces of equipment, or social and environmental systems.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$10,582
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$81,839
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate56%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T) is a public historically Black university (HBCU) in the quaint town of Greensboro. It is the largest HBCU in the United States.
The university’s is B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering program is well regarded. It prepares students to solve large and complex problems and become leaders and managers. The curriculum places a special emphasis on laboratory and project-based learning.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$25,057
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$107,105
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate95%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, located just outside Chicago on the banks of Lake Michigan.
It offers a prestigious Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering that graduates about 70 seniors per year. Students study core subjects such as analytics, logistics, optimization, and financial engineering. Many program participants opt for a double major, with IE + computer science or economics being popular combinations.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$16,563
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$92,373
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate85%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
North Carolina State University is a public university. It is the largest university in the Carolinas, and its engineering programs have a longstanding reputation for academic excellence.
NC State’s BS in Industrial Engineering is highly respected. It teaches students to solve engineering problems, design systems, products, and processes, and build a sturdy foundation in mathematical and scientific principles.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$18,766
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$103,886
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate86%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) is a public university in California’s Central Coast region.
Its B.S. in Industrial Engineering teaches students to solve complex problems at the intersection of engineering and human behavior. You will learn to develop safe, efficient production processes and be an interface between technology and humans.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$29,462
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$114,688
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate93%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Industrial engineering vs mechanical engineering and other similar majors
Industrial and mechanical engineering are often confused, but they are very different majors.
While mechanical engineers use the principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, and materials science to design mechanical systems, industrial engineers focus on optimizing processes, systems, and organizations.
Industrial engineers work to set up supply chains, improve processes, and perform systems analysis in diverse industries such as healthcare and retail, and take care of quality control.
Industrial engineers are therefore more “people focused,” working closely with business management, HR, and logistics. Mechanical engineers work mostly with machines.
Below, we provide a salary comparison for various engineering disciplines, 4 years after leaving college.
Electrical engineering - $90,590
Computer engineering - $90,189
Chemical engineering - $86,902
Industrial engineering - $86,315
Mechanical engineering - $82,261
Biomedical engineering - $80,681
Materials engineering - $77,514
Civil engineering - $76,683
Environmental engineering - $65,898
Source: IPEDS data
Industrial engineering salary breakdown
While getting a bachelor’s in industrial engineering can open doors to high salaries soon after graduation, a master’s degree in the field does not provide a significant salary bump.
This is great news for people who want to roll their sleeves up and get to work without devoting too much time or money to a college education.
The data below represents the average salary of industrial engineering degree holders 4 years after graduation. Data comes from IPEDS.
Click on a degree card to reveal more information.
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