2027 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Industrial & Management Engineering](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/industrial-management-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial & management engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial & management engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools
Oakland University earned the #1 spot for value among industrial & management engineering schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $25,972. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $112,624. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Lakeshore Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial & management engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $11,582. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $41,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Northwest earned it the #3 place for industrial & management engineering. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. Students from in state pay about $8,357 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $25,083 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $66,798. Set against $25,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial & management engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $110,914. That is a strong return on a $26,516 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial & management engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $128,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #6 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $17,625. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $74,268 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #7 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,625 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $72,252. Set against $16,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Michigan Technological University landed the #9 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. 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. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #10 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $25,209. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $81,686 early in their careers. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,176. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $47,735. That is a strong return on a $24,787 median debt. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #12 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $23,677. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $56,998. Set against $23,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
Western Michigan University came in at #13 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $67,992. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #15 position for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $21,813. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #16 for value in industrial & management engineering 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. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $84,244 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #17 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $26,774. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $72,164 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Central Michigan University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $104,028 early in their careers. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Indiana Institute Of Technology ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Students from in state pay about $31,361 in tuition and fees. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $36,380 in student loans. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Indiana Institute Of Technology earn a median of $56,185 early in their careers. Set against $36,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #21 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,404 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $65,996. Set against $26,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #22 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $62,458. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Miami University Oxford ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $27,000. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $74,624 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Northwestern University came in at #24 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $144,879 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Dayton ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $25,033. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $56,077 early in their careers. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s industrial & management engineering value ranking:
Narrow Industrial & Management Engineering Schools by State
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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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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.
