Top Industrial Engineering Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

Industrial engineering is a popular field of study, ranking #87 out of 395 degrees in the nation, so the choice of where to study is a hard one. Determining the best industrial engineering (IE) program can significantly impact your future career. This article explores top schools for industrial engineering, considering factors like program quality, graduate salaries, and overall university rankings.

Methodology

College Factual looked at 95 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for industrial engineering students pursuing a degree. The rankings are derived using College Factual's methodology, which analyzes various factors to assess the quality of industrial engineering programs across the United States.

Top Universities for Industrial Engineering

Here's a look at some of the best schools for industrial engineering in the United States:

1. Northwestern University

Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois, is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. Northwestern is a great university overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #5 out of 2,152 schools nationwide. Approximately 79 industrial engineering students graduated from Northwestern in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the industrial engineering degree program at Northwestern University get $13,100 above the standard graduate in this field when they enter the workforce. Any student who is interested in industrial engineering has to take a look at Northwestern University.

2. Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is a fairly large public school located in Atlanta. Georgia Tech is a great school overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #19 out of 2,152 schools nationwide. The College of Engineering is consistently ranked among the country’s top 10 engineering institutions and has a reputation as a global leader and innovator. The College is home to eight separate engineering schools, each of which are ranked in the top of their respective fields. In fall 2024, Engineering enrollment topped 20,000, making it the largest College of Engineering of its kind in the country. The College of Engineering is No. 1 among public universities. There were approximately 459 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Tech in the most recent year data is available.

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university located in New York City. Columbia is a great university overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #15 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide. Columbia University is separated into 20 different schools which include the College, global research outposts, Juilliard School, Barnard College, and more. Approximately 104 industrial engineering students graduated from Columbia in the most recent data year. Any student pursuing a degree in industrial engineering needs to check out Columbia University in the City of New York.

4. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas A&M University - College Station is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of College Station. Texas A&M College Station is a great university overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #42 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide. Approximately 391 industrial engineering students graduated from Texas A&M College Station in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the ie program earn around $76,382 in their early career salary. Texas A&M University - College Station is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in industrial engineering.

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan (U-M) is a public university with a fairly large student population, located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor. U-M is a great university overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #22 out of 2,152 schools nationwide. Approximately 247 industrial engineering students graduated from U-M in the most recent year data is available. Degree recipients from the industrial engineering degree program at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor make $11,772 above the standard college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

6. University of Southern California

Located in the large city of Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. USC is a great university overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #13 out of 2,152 schools nationwide. Approximately 83 industrial engineering students graduated from USC in the most recent year data is available. Degree recipients from the industrial engineering major at University of Southern California get $11,096 more than the typical college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce. At the University of Southern California, the most popular majors students study are Management Science, Computer Science, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric.

7. Clemson University

Clemson University is a public university with a very large student population, located in the suburb of Clemson. This university ranks 2nd out of 45 schools for overall quality in the state of South Carolina. Approximately 352 industrial engineering students graduated from Clemson in the most recent year data is available. Degree recipients from the industrial engineering program at Clemson University earn $13,984 more than the standard graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

8. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is a very large public school located in the small city of Blacksburg. This school ranks 2nd out of 57 colleges for overall quality in the state of Virginia. Each year, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University grants about 526 degrees to those majoring in Computer and Information Sciences, General, the institution’s most popular major. Roughly 231 industrial engineering students graduated from Virginia Tech in the most recent year data is available. Those industrial engineering students who get their degree from Virginia Tech make $5,726 more than the average ie student.

9. Purdue University - Main Campus

Purdue University is a public university with a very large student population, located in the small city of West Lafayette. This university ranks 3rd out of 41 schools for overall quality in the state of Indiana. At Purdue University-Main Campus, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and General. Roughly 331 industrial engineering students graduated from Purdue in the most recent year data is available. Those industrial engineering students who get their degree from Purdue University - Main Campus make $4,668 more than the standard ie student.

10. Lehigh University

Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Bethlehem. This university ranks 4th out of 103 colleges for overall quality in the state of Pennsylvania. At Lehigh University, the most popular majors students pursue are Finance, General, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering. Roughly 66 industrial engineering students graduated from Lehigh in the most recent year data is available. Industrial Engineering degree recipients from Lehigh University get an earnings boost of about $4,431 above the average income of industrial engineering graduates.

11. University of Wisconsin - Madison

The University of Wisconsin - Madison (UW - Madison) is a fairly large public university located in the city of Madison. UW - Madison is a great university overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #40 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide. Roughly 159 industrial engineering students graduated from UW - Madison in the most recent year data is available. Those industrial engineering students who get their degree from University of Wisconsin - Madison receive $3,724 more than the standard ie graduate.

12. Ohio State University - Main Campus

Ohio State University is a public university with a very large student population, located in the city of Columbus. This university ranks 1st out of 91 colleges for overall quality in the state of Ohio. Annually, Ohio State University-Main Campus awards around 794 degrees to students majoring in Finance, General, which is the school’s most popular major. Roughly 181 industrial engineering students graduated from Ohio State in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the industrial engineering major at Ohio State University - Main Campus get $4,165 above the average graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

13. Iowa State University

Iowa State University is a very large public university located in the city of Ames. This university ranks 2nd out of 37 schools for overall quality in the state of Iowa. Annually, Iowa State University grants about 356 degrees to those studying Mechanical Engineering, the institution’s most popular major. Roughly 160 industrial engineering students graduated from Iowa State in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the industrial engineering degree program at Iowa State University get $5,926 above the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

14. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (UMN Twin Cities) is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Minneapolis. This university ranks 1st out of 52 colleges for overall quality in the state of Minnesota. At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the most popular majors students pursue are Computer Science, Psychology, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General. Approximately 97 industrial engineering students graduated from UMN Twin Cities in the most recent year data is available. Students who graduate with their degree from the ie program report average early career income of $73,777.

15. University of Washington - Seattle Campus

The University of Washington - Seattle Campus (UW Seattle) is a very large public university located in the city of Seattle. UW Seattle is a great university overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #44 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide. Annually, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus grants around 480 degrees to those studying Computer Science, which is the institution’s most popular major. Roughly 70 industrial engineering students graduated from UW Seattle in the most recent year data is available. Degree recipients from the industrial engineering degree program at University of Washington - Seattle Campus get $22,387 above the average graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

16. North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public university with a fairly large student population, located in the city of Raleigh. This university ranks 4th out of 93 schools for overall quality in the state of North Carolina. Each year, North Carolina State University grants about 918 degrees to students studying Business Administration and Management, General, the school’s most popular major. Roughly 133 industrial engineering students graduated from NC State in the most recent year data is available. Degree recipients from the industrial engineering degree program at North Carolina State University earn $4,344 more than the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

17. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a very large public university located in the small city of Champaign. UIUC is a great university overall, with a Best Colleges rank of #41 out of 2,152 schools nationwide. Roughly 109 industrial engineering students graduated from UIUC in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the ie program earn an average of $78,313 for their early career.

18. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population, located in the city of Troy. This school ranks 6th out of 136 schools for overall quality in the state of New York. Every year, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute grants around 250 degrees to those majoring in Computer Science, the institution’s most popular major. Roughly 57 industrial engineering students graduated from RPI in the most recent data year. After graduating, ie degree recipients generally earn about $74,787 at the beginning of their careers.

19. University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a very large public university located in the city of Pittsburgh. This university ranks 6th out of 103 colleges for overall quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Roughly 93 industrial engineering students graduated from Pitt in the most recent data year.

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