Industrial Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 157 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for industrial engineering students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Industrial Engineering School
Where you study industrial engineering matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Industrial Engineering Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Industrial Engineering School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Industrial Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
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Best Schools for Industrial Engineering in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the industrial engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for industrial engineering. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 80 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $89,811 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Northwestern University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in industrial engineering, ranking #2. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 195 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 250 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $93,464 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $20,306 in student loans.
See the full industrial engineering program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 418 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $87,826. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in industrial engineering, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 54 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
See the full industrial engineering program report for New York University
University Of Southern California placed #6 among the best industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 89 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from University Of Southern California earn around $87,807 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at University Of Southern California
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #7 among the best industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 37 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
Get the full industrial engineering details for The University Of Texas At Austin
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #8 position for industrial engineering this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 72 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $87,226. Typical student debt for the program is $19,691.
Get the full industrial engineering details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #9 for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 164 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. 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.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 366 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $81,379. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,427 in student loans.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at Purdue University Main Campus
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #11 for industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 156 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Industrial Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $81,055 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans.
See the full industrial engineering program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 135 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $78,313. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $22,330 in student loans.
See the full industrial engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #13 spot for industrial engineering this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 618 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $86,804 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $19,708 in student loans.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Arizona State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 153 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Arizona State University earn around $77,850 in the first couple years of their career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $19,375 in student loans.
Get the full industrial engineering details for Arizona State University
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 142 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $80,876. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 118 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, 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.
Get the full industrial engineering details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #17 spot for 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. About 47 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $104,021 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $18,027 in student loans.
Get the full industrial engineering details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #18 spot for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 296 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $82,437 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,870 to complete this degree.
Get the full industrial engineering details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Brown University came in at #19 for industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $62,820 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
Get the full industrial engineering details for Brown University
Northeastern University landed the #20 spot for 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. About 187 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Industrial Engineering graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $77,066 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full industrial engineering details for Northeastern University
University Of Connecticut earned the #21 position for industrial engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $77,692 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,889.
See the full industrial engineering program report for University Of Connecticut
San Jose State University came in at #22 for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 68 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from San Jose State University
Lehigh University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. About 88% of students finish within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 77 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $81,142 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,834.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at Lehigh University
Clemson University landed the #24 spot for industrial engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 397 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Clemson University earn around $101,849 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from Clemson University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #25 for industrial engineering this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Troy. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awarded about 21 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $74,787. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rest of the Top 50 Industrial Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s industrial engineering ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, 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).
