2026 Best Industrial & Management Engineering Schools in California
Industrial & Management Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best industrial & management engineering schools.
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Best Schools for Industrial & Management Engineering in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the industrial & management engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Industrial & Management Engineering
Our analysis ranked San Jose State University the best school in the country for a degree in industrial & management engineering. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 104 industrial & management engineering degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in industrial & management engineering from San Jose State University
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in industrial & management engineering, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 203 industrial & management engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial & management engineering degree from Stanford University earn around $117,080 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best industrial & management engineering schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 20 industrial & management engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans.
More information about a degree in industrial & management engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Students looking for a strong industrial & management engineering program will find one at Santa Clara University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Santa Clara University awarded about 12 industrial & management engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $79,380. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
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California State University East Bay came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best industrial & management engineering schools. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 industrial & management engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial & management engineering degree from California State University East Bay earn around $58,951 in the first couple years of their career. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans.
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University Of The Pacific ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best industrial & management engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Stockton. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 10 industrial & management engineering degrees were awarded at University Of The Pacific in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $77,022. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge landed the #7 spot for industrial & management engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 127 industrial & management engineering degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial & management engineering degree from California State University Northridge earn around $48,437 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
Read more about the industrial & management engineering program at California State University Northridge
National University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best industrial & management engineering schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. National University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 industrial & management engineering students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial & management engineering degree recipients from National University generally make around $90,598. National University graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans.
More information about a degree in industrial & management engineering from National University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.
- 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.