Industrial Engineering

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$74,469

Median Earnings

$97,788

Schools Offering

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $91,614Median: $97,78875th: $102,563

Best Schools for Industrial Engineering by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Northwestern University IL · Private	94	$138,720	$29,167	$17,912	A
2	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public	97	$128,003	$12,116	$21,750	A
3	Lehigh University PA · Private	93	$121,498	$36,931	$23,834	B+
4	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$117,930	$13,138	$20,306	A
5	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$116,641	$24,953	$22,870	B+
6	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$112,797	$16,665	$19,691	A
7	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$112,150	$32,740	$18,250	A
8	University of Connecticut CT · Public	85	$111,672	$25,097	$24,889	B+
9	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public	85	$111,672	$10,875	$24,889	B+
10	University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public	87	$111,672	$13,807	$24,889	B+
11	University of Connecticut-Stamford CT · Public	84	$111,672	$16,798	$24,889	B+
12	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT · Public	87	$111,672	$16,403	$24,889	B+
13	Northeastern University MA · Private	91	$111,430	$30,915	$25,000	B+
14	University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public	91	$110,711	$17,354	$23,577	B+
15	University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public	94	$109,575	$14,091	$18,027	A
16	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public	73	$107,093	$18,976	$24,125	B+
17	Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public	91	$107,031	$14,600	$19,427	A
18	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$106,932	$17,339	$21,875	B+
19	Rochester Institute of Technology NY · Private	75	$105,313	$34,906	$30,750	B
20	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College PA · Public	60	$104,758	$24,558	$25,000	B+
21	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public	62	$104,758	$32,875	$25,000	B+
22	University of Louisville KY · Public	58	$104,538	$17,988	$23,000	B+
23	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$103,143	$14,355	$22,330	B+
24	SUNY Maritime College NY · Public	91	$102,563	$22,367	$24,989	B+
25	Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public	77	$102,439	$14,967	$19,375	A
26	Oakland University MI · Public	71	$102,222	$9,120	$29,750	B
27	Wayne State University MI · Public	61	$101,990	$12,766	$24,340	B+
28	Oregon State University OR · Public	75	$101,653	$19,604	$25,437	B+
29	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus OR · Public	73	$101,653	$18,048	$25,437	B+
30	Worcester Polytechnic Institute MA · Private	90	$101,554	$43,071	$26,254	B+
31	New Jersey Institute of Technology NJ · Public	92	$101,547	$16,504	$25,000	B
32	University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public	77	$101,380	$20,268	$26,512	B+
33	North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public	87	$100,172	$17,303	$22,309	B+
34	Auburn University AL · Public	76	$99,441	$24,323	$23,250	B+
35	Ohio University-Eastern Campus OH · Public	62	$99,364	$3,925	$27,000	B
36	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus OH · Public	60	$99,364	$5,755	$27,000	B
37	Ohio University-Main Campus OH · Public	48	$99,364	$21,637	$27,000	B
38	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus OH · Public	60	$99,364	$5,746	$27,000	B
39	West Virginia University WV · Public	64	$99,180	$15,634	$25,207	B+
40	University of Miami FL · Private	78	$99,068	$37,244	$15,110	A
41	University of Arkansas AR · Public	69	$98,765	$18,209	$26,500	B+
42	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public	70	$98,654	$30,434	$25,250	B+
43	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY · Private	93	$98,509	$36,228	$22,750	B+
44	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public	83	$98,394	$15,300	$26,125	B
45	Texas Tech University TX · Public	76	$98,266	$19,070	$29,000	B
46	University of Massachusetts-Amherst MA · Public	83	$97,791	$22,383	$27,000	B
47	The University of Texas at Arlington TX · Public	76	$97,788	$13,951	$22,503	B+
48	University of Minnesota-Duluth MN · Public	74	$97,732	$18,743	$24,185	B+
49	Florida State University FL · Public	83	$96,504	$11,297	$20,000	B+
50	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$95,918	$21,315	$19,708	B+

Exceptional Value

Is Industrial Engineering Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Industrial Engineering is one of the strongest financial bets in higher education. With average graduate earnings of $74,469 four years after graduation, this field consistently outperforms the median across all majors. The return on investment is clear.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 97 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is Liberty University, where graduates earn $94,928 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Industrial Engineering All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Industrial Engineering

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

Best Schools for Industrial Engineering by Earnings

Is Industrial Engineering Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

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