2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in Michigan

[Industrial Engineering](/majors/engineering/ie-industrial-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value industrial engineering schools.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools
University Of Michigan Dearborn tops our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools in Michigan. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at Oakland University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $29,750. 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.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at Wayne State University, which ranked #3. 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 Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,340 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $77,815. Set against $24,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,306 in student loans. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $93,464 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Michigan University earned it the #5 place for industrial engineering. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $27,981. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $74,670. Set against $27,981 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Kettering University earned the #6 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,425. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,913 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Kettering University generally make around $85,105. Set against $28,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Lawrence Technological University earned the #7 position for value in industrial engineering this year. 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. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $74,924. Set against $27,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lawrence Technological University admits about 56% of applicants.
More Industrial Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.