# Industrial Engineering

> A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, improvement, and installation of integrated systems of people, material, information, and energy. Includes instruction in applied mathematics, physical sciences, the social sciences, engineering analysis, systems design, computer applications, and forecasting and evaluation methodology.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/industrial-engineering
- CIP code: 14.35 (Engineering)
- Colleges offering it: 128 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/engineering

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 12 | $79,268 | $99,370 | $23,474 |
| Associate's | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 128 | $78,339 | $96,504 | $20,656 |
| Master's | 92 | $103,640 | $118,191 | $21,528 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 58 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 27 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Evanston, IL | $138,720 | $13,992 |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Atlanta, GA | $128,003 | $20,071 |
| [Lehigh University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lehigh-university-1472) | Bethlehem, PA | $121,498 | $19,000 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Ann Arbor, MI | $117,930 | $20,500 |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Blacksburg, VA | $116,641 | $20,500 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | San Luis Obispo, CA | $112,797 | $18,999 |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Los Angeles, CA | $112,150 | $22,500 |
| [University of Connecticut](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-connecticut-uconn-2902) | Storrs, CT | $111,672 | $20,824 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Boston, MA | $111,430 | $23,750 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-madison-main-campus-3084) | Madison, WI | $110,711 | $19,750 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Architectural and Engineering Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/architectural-and-engineering-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biofuels-biodiesel-technology-and-product-development-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Biofuels Production Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biofuels-production-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Biomass Power Plant Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biomass-power-plant-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Geothermal Production Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geothermal-production-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Hydroelectric Production Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hydroelectric-production-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Industrial Production Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-production-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Quality Control Systems Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/quality-control-systems-managers): $126,060 median pay
- [Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineering-teachers-postsecondary): $109,270 median pay
- [Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/human-factors-engineers-and-ergonomists): $102,440 median pay
- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Manufacturing Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/manufacturing-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Validation Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/validation-engineers): $102,440 median pay

## More in Engineering

- [Engineering, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/engineering-general): 452 colleges
- [Mechanical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mechanical-engineering): 395 colleges
- [Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/electrical-electronics-and-communications-engineering): 387 colleges
- [Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-engineering): 367 colleges
- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/civil-engineering): 300 colleges
- [Biomedical/Medical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biomedical-medical-engineering): 200 colleges
- [Chemical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemical-engineering): 182 colleges
- [Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/environmental-environmental-health-engineering): 130 colleges

## Guides on this field

- [How to Compare Colleges by Major: Engineering, STEM, Pre-Med, and Business](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/how-to-compare-colleges-by-major)

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/