2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in the Southeast 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.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value industrial engineering schools.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of South Florida Main Campus the best value for a degree in industrial engineering in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $24,633 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $69,672. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,273 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $81,592. That is a strong return on a $26,273 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #3 place for industrial engineering. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $76,426 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #4 place for industrial engineering. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $21,750. Industrial Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $87,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,750 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina A And T State University earned it the #5 place for industrial engineering. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,813, compared with $20,673 for out-of-state students. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $82,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University earned the #6 position for value in industrial engineering this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $25,207. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $75,606. Set against $25,207 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana Tech University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Set in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,125, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $65,739 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #8 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $81,055. Set against $22,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Mississippi State University placed #9 among the best values for industrial engineering. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $70,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mississippi State University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky came in at #10 for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $76,033. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas placed #11 among the best values for industrial engineering. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $75,968. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Louisville came in at #12 for value in industrial engineering this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $23,000. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $74,163 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #13 for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $91,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Set in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,132, while out-of-state students pay about $26,408. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $76,690. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Alabama At Huntsville admits about 69% of applicants.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #15 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $65,285. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Clemson University came in at #16 for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $101,849. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,870 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $82,437. That is a strong return on a $22,870 median debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Auburn University earned the #18 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $71,063. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University came in at #19 for value in industrial engineering this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $45,877. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami came in at #20 for value in industrial engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,110 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $71,089. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 19%.
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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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
