2026 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Industrial & Management Engineering](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/industrial-management-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 217 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial & management engineering students.
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2026 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
Leading the list is Utah Valley University, our #1 best value for industrial & management engineering in the United States. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $63,780. That is a strong return on a $13,850 median debt.
Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
Christian Brothers University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Located in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,420 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $32,416. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Christian Brothers University earn a median of $51,040 early in their careers. Set against $32,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in industrial & management engineering will find it at Purdue University Northwest, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $25,083. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $66,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Utah State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,988 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $54,059. That is a strong return on a $13,988 median debt. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Arizona State University came in at #6 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $76,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Universidad Del Turabo earned the #7 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Universidad Del Turabo is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gurabo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,750. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $22,999. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Universidad Del Turabo generally make around $28,231. Set against $22,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $19,576 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $67,431. Set against $19,576 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette came in at #10 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,146. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $24,373. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Lafayette generally make around $42,873. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #11 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $60,284 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #12 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $72,708. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Arizona landed the #13 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $24,777. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $75,109 early in their careers. Set against $24,777 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of South Carolina Upstate earned the #14 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,588, while out-of-state students pay about $23,090. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of University Of South Carolina Upstate earn a median of $39,473 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
East Carolina University placed #15 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. That is a strong return on a $24,747 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Michigan Technological University came in at #16 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,875 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $68,919. That is a strong return on a $27,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
South Dakota State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $51,260. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Grantham University came in at #18 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Grantham University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of LIttle Rock. Students from in state pay about $8,520 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $30,600. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $58,712. Set against $30,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa State University earned the #19 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $62,416. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Pittsburg State University placed #20 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $22,669. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $50,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #21 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $31,122. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $53,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #22 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $72,164 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Western Michigan University placed #23 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $67,992 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University came in at #24 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $53,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #25 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $26,404 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $65,996. That is a strong return on a $26,404 median debt. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 33 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s industrial & management engineering value ranking:
Other Industrial & Management Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Industrial & Management Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Industrial & Management Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 217 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
