2026 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Industrial & Management Engineering](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/industrial-management-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 45 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial & management engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial & management engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools
Lakeshore Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among industrial & management engineering schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $11,582. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Northwest earned it the #2 place for industrial & management engineering. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $25,083. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $66,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Dearborn earned it the #3 place for industrial & management engineering. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $26,516. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $110,914. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #4 place for industrial & management engineering. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $17,625. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $74,268 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial & management engineering will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $16,625 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $72,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,625 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #6 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $23,677. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $56,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University landed the #7 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $25,972. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $112,624 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University placed #8 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $81,686. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #9 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $20,778. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Wayne State University landed the #10 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $128,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Michigan Technological University earned the #11 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,875 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $68,919. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Central Michigan University came in at #13 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $27,857. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $104,028 early in their careers. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University placed #14 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Students borrow a median of $31,122 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $84,244. Set against $31,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Western Michigan University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $67,992. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #16 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $26,774. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $72,164. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $24,546. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $26,404. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $65,996 early in their careers. Set against $26,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Indiana Institute Of Technology came in at #19 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,361 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $36,380. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Indiana Institute Of Technology earn a median of $56,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,380 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus came in at #20 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,176. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $47,735. That is a strong return on a $24,787 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University earned the #21 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $144,879 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford earned the #22 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $74,624. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton placed #23 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,140. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $25,033. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $56,077. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.
Kettering University earned the #24 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the city of Flint, Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,425. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $28,913. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $87,338. Set against $28,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Lawrence Technological University came in at #25 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,760. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $27,799. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $74,924. That is a strong return on a $27,799 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s industrial & management engineering value ranking:
Narrow Industrial & Management Engineering Schools by State
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
