General Industrial Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 157 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general industrial engineering students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great General Industrial Engineering School
The general industrial engineering program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best General Industrial Engineering Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
General Industrial Engineering Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Industrial Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for general industrial engineering. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 80 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general industrial engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $89,811 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,912 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for general industrial engineering. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 195 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for general industrial engineering. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 250 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general industrial engineering program make about $93,464 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,306.
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Students looking for a strong general industrial engineering program will find one at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 418 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. General Industrial Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $87,826 early in their careers. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general industrial engineering program will find one at New York University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general industrial engineering degree from New York University earn around $64,516 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
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University Of Southern California came in at #6 for general industrial engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 89 general industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $87,807. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #7 position for general industrial engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 37 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their general industrial engineering degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #8 position for general industrial engineering this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 72 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general industrial engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $87,226 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,691 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general industrial engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 164 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. General Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $80,435 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $23,577 in student loans.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #10 position for general industrial engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 366 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general industrial engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $81,379. Students borrow a median of $19,427 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general industrial engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 156 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. General Industrial Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $81,055 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,309.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #12 spot for general industrial engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 135 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their general industrial engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $78,313 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,330 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station earned the #13 position for general industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 618 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. General Industrial Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $86,804 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $19,708 in student loans.
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Arizona State University earned the #14 position for general industrial engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 153 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. General Industrial Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $77,850 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,375 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for general industrial engineering this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 142 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general industrial engineering program make about $80,876 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875.
More information about a degree in general industrial engineering from Ohio State University Main Campus
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best general industrial engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 118 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general industrial engineering degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #17 spot for general industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $104,021. Typical student debt for the program is $18,027.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 296 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general industrial engineering program make about $82,437 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,870 to complete this degree.
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Brown University landed the #19 spot for general industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 24 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general industrial engineering program make about $62,820 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
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Northeastern University earned the #20 position for general industrial engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 187 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general industrial engineering degree from Northeastern University earn around $77,066 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general industrial engineering schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Connecticut awarded about 45 general industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $77,692 early in their careers. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $24,889 in student loans.
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San Jose State University placed #22 among the best general industrial engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 68 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Lehigh University landed the #23 spot for general industrial engineering this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 77 general industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general industrial engineering program make about $81,142 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,834 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University came in at #24 for general industrial engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 397 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general industrial engineering program make about $101,849 in their early career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best general industrial engineering schools. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 general industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general industrial engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn around $74,787 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Industrial Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general industrial engineering education:
General Industrial Engineering Related Rankings by Major
General Industrial Engineering is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 157 schools evaluated.
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).
