by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 189 U.S. colleges awarded 7,921 degrees and certificates in Industrial & Management Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 81% of graduates. College Factual ranks 124 schools in its 2027 Best Industrial & Management Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $86,644 one year after completing, rising to $108,922 after four years.
Studying Industrial & Management Engineering covers Engineering/industrial Management. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Engineering Principles To The Planning And Operational Management Of Industrial And Manufacturing Operations, And Prepares Individuals To Plan And Manage Such Operations. Includes Instruction In Accounting, Engineering Economy, Financial Management, Industrial And Human Resources Management, Industrial Psychology, Management Information Systems, Mathematical Modeling And Optimization, Quality Control, Operations Research, Safety And Health Issues, And Environmental Program Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., industrial & management engineering is a popular field of study, with 7,921 degrees awarded annually. 189 colleges award industrial & management engineering degrees, an average of 42 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 461.
By level, the 7,921 awards include 23 associate degrees, 1,356 bachelor’s degrees, 6,426 master’s degrees and 116 doctorates.
Women earned 30% of industrial & management engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,354 of 7,921). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,523) and Hispanic or Latino (569), and international students earned 3,600.
College Factual ranks 124 schools in its 2027 Best Industrial & Management Engineering Schools ranking, including 32 for bachelor’s degrees, 106 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks industrial & management engineering schools within 25 states. In all, 189 colleges offer industrial & management engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common industrial & management engineering credential is the master’s degree: 6,426 of the 7,921 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to industrial & management engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Engineering and Technology and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity and Deductive Reasoning.
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How long an industrial & management engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 23 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,356 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,426 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 116 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to industrial & management engineering, at 46.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.5% |
| Some college courses | 11.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.2% |
| Master’s degree | 10.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Industrial & Management Engineering, with an average median salary of $112,423; the strongest outlook belongs to Hydroelectric Production Managers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Plant Manager, Industrial Production Manager, Engineer and Quality Engineer.
The occupation related to industrial & management engineering with the most projected jobs is Geothermal Production Managers, at 503,620.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | 395,031 | 12.1% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Validation Engineers | 298,574 | 4.8% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 266,539 | 2.0% |
Industrial & Management Engineering graduates earn a median $86,644 one year after completing their program, $108,922 after four years and $104,461 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $86,644 |
| 4 years | $108,922 |
| 5 years | $104,461 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to industrial & management engineering is Biofuels Production Managers, with a median salary of $164,096.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | $128,495 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $126,666 |
| Industrial Engineers | $120,863 |
| Quality Control Systems Managers | $108,531 |
Industrial & Management Engineering has 3 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 840 degrees a year; the largest are Packaging Science (377), Engineering Design (253) and Engineering-Related Fields, Other (210). Browse all Engineering Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Packaging Science | 377 |
| Engineering Design | 253 |
| Engineering-Related Fields, Other | 210 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
