2027 Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Industrial & Management Engineering](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/industrial-management-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial & management engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 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 The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial & management engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial & Management Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Wichita State University, our #1 best value for industrial & management engineering in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $49,278 early in their careers. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Saint Cloud State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial & management engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $51,625. Set against $25,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial & management engineering will find it at Pittsburg State University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,669 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $50,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $43,255. Set against $23,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned it the #5 place for industrial & management engineering. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $80,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $84,866 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Kansas came in at #7 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $122,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Iowa State University placed #8 among the best values for industrial & management engineering. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $25,236 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $62,416. That is a strong return on a $25,236 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
South Dakota State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & management engineering schools. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology landed the #10 spot for industrial & management engineering value this year. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Rapid City. Students from in state pay about $10,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,900. Typical student debt for industrial & management engineering graduates is $26,668. Early-career industrial & management engineering graduates make about $91,138. Set against $26,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #11 for value in industrial & management engineering this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete the industrial & management engineering program here. Industrial & Management Engineering graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
