2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Industrial Engineering](/majors/engineering/ie-industrial-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Dearborn the best value for a degree in industrial engineering in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $62,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at Northcentral Technical College, which ranked #2. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Industrial Engineering graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $41,696 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,709 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $22,247. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $57,281. That is a strong return on a $22,247 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for industrial engineering. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $19,427. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $81,379. Set against $19,427 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $72,112 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #6 among the best values for industrial engineering. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $73,092. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #7 for value in industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $20,306. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $93,464 early in their careers. Set against $20,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #8 for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $77,169. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University earned the #9 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $69,202. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #10 among the best values for industrial engineering. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $22,330 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $78,313 early in their careers. Set against $22,330 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University earned the #11 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $24,340. Industrial Engineering graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $77,815 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,340 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $27,694 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $76,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #13 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,577 in student loans. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $80,435 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,577 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $80,876. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #15 spot for industrial engineering value this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $22,536 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $68,673 early in their careers. Set against $22,536 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Western Michigan University placed #16 among the best values for industrial engineering. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $74,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies landed the #17 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,896. Students borrow a median of $32,750 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies generally make around $77,456. That is a strong return on a $32,750 median debt.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $70,199. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University earned the #19 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,788 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $68,166. That is a strong return on a $25,788 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee School Of Engineering came in at #20 for value in industrial engineering this year. Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $50,480 in tuition and fees. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Milwaukee School Of Engineering generally make around $71,112. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Northwestern University earned the #21 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $17,912. Industrial Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $89,811 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,912 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Kettering University landed the #22 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,425. Students borrow a median of $28,913 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of Kettering University earn a median of $85,105 early in their careers. Set against $28,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kettering University admits about 79% of applicants.
Lawrence Technological University placed #23 among the best values for industrial engineering. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,760. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $74,924. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
