Engineering · bachelor's degree
Industrial engineering major: colleges and pay
120 colleges in our data award bachelor's degrees in industrial engineering, 4,853 of them in 2023-24. Graduates of the typical program earned $78,634 a year after graduating and $95,835 four years after.
Colleges offering it120
Graduates in 2023-244,853
Typical median debt$20,812
Typical earnings 1 yr after$78,634
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$95,835
Earnings to debt3.8x
Official field name: Industrial Engineering.
Where industrial engineering graduates earn the most
Typical earnings four years after graduation, by state (states with 3 or more programs reporting).
$87,782$104,758· grey: fewer than 3 programs with data
Colleges where industrial engineering graduates earn the most
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings four years after graduation.
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL | 65 | $95,993 | $138,720 | $13,992 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA | 343 | n/a | $128,003 | $20,071 |
| Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA | 56 | $84,946 | $121,498 | $19,000 |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | 141 | $87,932 | $117,930 | $20,500 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA | 207 | $81,066 | $116,641 | $20,500 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 69 | $89,961 | $112,797 | $18,999 |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 53 | $86,653 | $112,150 | $22,500 |
| University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT | 45 | $77,753 | $111,672 | $20,824 |
| Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA | 80 | $82,701 | $111,430 | $23,750 |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI | 105 | $83,954 | $110,711 | $19,750 |
| University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA | 21 | $87,802 | $109,575 | n/a |
| The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN | 52 | $80,441 | $107,093 | $12,000 |
| Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN | 257 | $84,842 | $107,031 | $19,000 |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | 114 | $82,850 | $106,932 | $19,250 |
| Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY | 20 | $83,394 | $105,313 | $27,250 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 139 | $81,854 | $104,758 | $25,625 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeErie, PA | 20 | $81,854 | $104,758 | $25,625 |
| University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY | 27 | $82,558 | $104,538 | n/a |
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL | 77 | $83,615 | $103,143 | $20,000 |
| SUNY Maritime CollegeThroggs Neck, NY | 18 | n/a | $102,563 | n/a |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 65 | $76,898 | $102,439 | $21,500 |
| Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MI | 12 | $76,801 | $102,222 | n/a |
| Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI | 13 | $74,081 | $101,990 | n/a |
| Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR | 39 | $76,674 | $101,653 | $19,392 |
| Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA | 24 | $87,375 | $101,554 | $23,249 |
Largest industrial engineering programs
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA | 343 | n/a | $128,003 | $20,071 |
| Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX | 274 | $80,713 | $95,918 | $17,148 |
| Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN | 257 | $84,842 | $107,031 | $19,000 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA | 207 | $81,066 | $116,641 | $20,500 |
| Clemson UniversityClemson, SC | 161 | $78,339 | $92,491 | $21,500 |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | 141 | $87,932 | $117,930 | $20,500 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 139 | $81,854 | $104,758 | $25,625 |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | 114 | $82,850 | $106,932 | $19,250 |
| University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL | 110 | $77,227 | $91,630 | $16,500 |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI | 105 | $83,954 | $110,711 | $19,750 |
| Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL | 97 | $75,473 | $99,441 | $19,000 |
| University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguez, PR | 93 | $48,307 | $75,096 | $8,375 |
| North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC | 92 | $83,292 | $100,172 | $17,464 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA | 84 | $79,739 | $98,654 | $22,750 |
| Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA | 80 | $82,701 | $111,430 | $23,750 |
Graduate degrees in industrial engineering
Master's: 92 programs, $104,233 first-year earnings; Doctoral: 58 programs. Compare graduate programs.
Every college with a industrial engineering major
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL | 65 | $95,993 | $138,720 | $13,992 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA | 343 | n/a | $128,003 | $20,071 |
| Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA | 56 | $84,946 | $121,498 | $19,000 |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | 141 | $87,932 | $117,930 | $20,500 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA | 207 | $81,066 | $116,641 | $20,500 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 69 | $89,961 | $112,797 | $18,999 |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 53 | $86,653 | $112,150 | $22,500 |
| University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT | 45 | $77,753 | $111,672 | $20,824 |
| Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA | 80 | $82,701 | $111,430 | $23,750 |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI | 105 | $83,954 | $110,711 | $19,750 |
| University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA | 21 | $87,802 | $109,575 | n/a |
| The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN | 52 | $80,441 | $107,093 | $12,000 |
| Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN | 257 | $84,842 | $107,031 | $19,000 |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | 114 | $82,850 | $106,932 | $19,250 |
| Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY | 20 | $83,394 | $105,313 | $27,250 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 139 | $81,854 | $104,758 | $25,625 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeErie, PA | 20 | $81,854 | $104,758 | $25,625 |
| University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY | 27 | $82,558 | $104,538 | n/a |
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL | 77 | $83,615 | $103,143 | $20,000 |
| SUNY Maritime CollegeThroggs Neck, NY | 18 | n/a | $102,563 | n/a |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 65 | $76,898 | $102,439 | $21,500 |
| Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MI | 12 | $76,801 | $102,222 | n/a |
| Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI | 13 | $74,081 | $101,990 | n/a |
| Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR | 39 | $76,674 | $101,653 | $19,392 |
| Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBend, OR | 1 | $76,674 | $101,653 | $19,392 |
| Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA | 24 | $87,375 | $101,554 | $23,249 |
| New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, NJ | 21 | $77,703 | $101,547 | $24,000 |
| University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO | 30 | $74,704 | $101,380 | $21,454 |
| North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC | 92 | $83,292 | $100,172 | $17,464 |
| Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL | 97 | $75,473 | $99,441 | $19,000 |
| Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH | 11 | $77,633 | $99,364 | n/a |
| West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV | 40 | $79,027 | $99,180 | $23,335 |
| University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL | 31 | $81,506 | $99,068 | $22,375 |
| University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR | 47 | $80,857 | $98,765 | $21,537 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA | 84 | $79,739 | $98,654 | $22,750 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY | 19 | $83,823 | $98,509 | $19,718 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK | 42 | $72,727 | $98,394 | $19,500 |
| Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX | 46 | $81,283 | $98,266 | $25,000 |
| University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA | 27 | $82,123 | $97,791 | $27,000 |
| The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX | 48 | $70,875 | $97,788 | $18,476 |
| University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN | 15 | $67,042 | $97,732 | $26,450 |
| Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL | 27 | $82,823 | $96,504 | n/a |
| Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX | 274 | $80,713 | $95,918 | $17,148 |
| California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA | 64 | $82,978 | $95,835 | $12,750 |
| Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY | 50 | $75,151 | $95,354 | $18,257 |
| University of IowaIowa City, IA | 45 | $76,637 | $95,347 | $25,125 |
| University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville, AL | 49 | $88,803 | $95,153 | $19,500 |
| Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA | 16 | n/a | $94,928 | n/a |
| University of HoustonHouston, TX | 30 | $85,212 | $94,814 | $16,250 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA | 44 | $74,039 | $94,748 | $20,812 |
| Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, OK | 30 | $78,008 | $94,692 | $16,750 |
| Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ | 40 | $86,353 | $94,382 | $17,500 |
| California State University-East BayHayward, CA | 15 | n/a | $93,793 | n/a |
| North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, NC | 37 | $76,970 | $93,183 | $26,500 |
| Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS | 48 | $76,806 | $93,098 | $11,000 |
| Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA | 76 | $78,621 | $92,914 | $23,250 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid City, SD | 25 | $78,011 | $92,815 | $25,431 |
| Clemson UniversityClemson, SC | 161 | $78,339 | $92,491 | $21,500 |
| Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS | 64 | $70,572 | $92,332 | $21,750 |
| Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI | 17 | $79,387 | $92,306 | n/a |
| University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN | 58 | $78,646 | $92,241 | $20,500 |
| Lamar UniversityBeaumont, TX | 18 | $67,360 | $91,806 | n/a |
| University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL | 110 | $77,227 | $91,630 | $16,500 |
| East Texas A&M UniversityCommerce, TX | 9 | $48,991 | $91,614 | n/a |
| Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX | 26 | $77,946 | $90,729 | $24,742 |
| University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI | 18 | $76,265 | $90,399 | $25,500 |
| Indiana Institute of TechnologyFort Wayne, IN | 7 | $75,692 | $90,363 | $30,215 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional StudiesFort Wayne, IN | 10 | $75,692 | $90,363 | $30,215 |
| University of South FloridaTampa, FL | 68 | $73,833 | $90,040 | $17,597 |
| Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL | 17 | $84,017 | $89,362 | $27,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville, WI | 24 | $79,514 | $88,918 | $22,190 |
| Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LA | 15 | n/a | $88,619 | n/a |
| Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT | 19 | n/a | $88,087 | n/a |
| Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee, WI | 21 | $75,297 | $87,279 | $27,000 |
| Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OH | 10 | n/a | $86,340 | n/a |
| Kettering UniversityFlint, MI | 20 | $85,982 | $86,265 | $21,961 |
| University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL | 27 | $72,129 | $86,202 | $20,500 |
| University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY | 34 | $72,435 | $86,118 | $16,375 |
| North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, ND | 22 | $79,610 | $84,016 | $27,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI | 14 | $73,322 | $82,763 | n/a |
| Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL | 14 | $81,454 | $82,744 | n/a |
| Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL | 19 | $79,613 | $82,584 | $20,000 |
| The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX | 42 | $55,166 | $82,391 | $10,882 |
| Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD | 8 | $79,194 | $81,416 | n/a |
| University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguez, PR | 93 | $48,307 | $75,096 | $8,375 |
| Kent State University at KentKent, OH | 8 | $66,043 | $72,958 | n/a |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BayamonBayamon, PR | 19 | $26,984 | $56,541 | n/a |
| University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn, MI | 5 | $83,246 | n/a | n/a |
| Wichita State UniversityWichita, KS | 23 | $71,961 | n/a | $21,000 |
| University of South Carolina AikenAiken, SC | 8 | $71,708 | n/a | n/a |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto RicoHato Rey, PR | 44 | $48,200 | n/a | $23,000 |
| Brown UniversityProvidence, RI | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Caribbean University-PoncePonce, PR | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado State University PuebloPueblo, CO | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityTallahassee, FL | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Fort Hays State UniversityHays, KS | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, SC | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Gannon UniversityErie, PA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MI | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Methodist UniversityFayetteville, NC | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, CT | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Saint Ambrose UniversityDavenport, IA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA | 38 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| South Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, SC | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| St. Mary's UniversitySan Antonio, TX | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TX | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Texas A&M University-KingsvilleKingsville, TX | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ArizonaTucson, AZ | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, MA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of New HavenWest Haven, CT | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of VermontBurlington, VT | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Western New England UniversitySpringfield, MA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do industrial engineering majors make?
Graduates of the typical industrial engineering program earned a median of $78,634 one year after graduation and $95,835 four years after, in 2024 dollars.
Which college has the highest-paid industrial engineering graduates?
Northwestern University, where graduates earned a median of $138,720 four years after graduation (programs with at least 10 graduates).
How many colleges offer a industrial engineering major?
120 colleges on the College Scorecard awarded bachelor's degrees in industrial engineering in 2022-23 or 2023-24.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.