2027 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools

[Industrial & Management Engineering](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/industrial-management-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial & management engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 123 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial & management engineering students.
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Finding the Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering School for You
The right industrial & management engineering school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
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2027 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial & management engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools
For return on investment in industrial & management engineering, no school beat California State University Los Angeles this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $48,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
California State University East Bay came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,583 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
California State University Northridge is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial & management engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $48,437 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,202 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Central Florida one of the best values for industrial & management engineering. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $120,323. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Lakeshore Technical College one of the best values for industrial & management engineering. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. Set against $11,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida International University landed the #6 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $19,349. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $52,517. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Oakland University placed #7 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $112,624 early in their careers. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #8 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,226 in student loans. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $49,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Lamar University came in at #9 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $52,678. Set against $26,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #10 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $46,404. That is a strong return on a $14,694 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Portland State University earned the #11 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $47,717. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Rice University placed #12 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #13 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $110,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #14 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
San Jose State University earned the #15 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University earned the #16 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $117,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Purdue University Northwest ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $25,083 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $66,798. That is a strong return on a $25,083 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $21,632. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $55,304 early in their careers. Set against $21,632 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #19 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $51,625. Set against $25,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University placed #20 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $49,278. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Wayne State University landed the #21 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $128,271. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #22 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $16,625. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $72,252. Set against $16,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,418, while out-of-state students pay about $24,146. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $24,373. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of $42,873 early in their careers. Set against $24,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Louisiana Lafayette admits about 87% of applicants.
Christian Brothers University came in at #24 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,420. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $32,416 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $51,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Christian Brothers University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Houston landed the #25 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for industrial & management engineering this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 123 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 123 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.