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2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

22 Ranked Colleges
1,927 Degrees Awarded
$12,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 9,072 people earned their degree in industrial engineering, making the major the 87th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, industrial engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $68,960 and had an average of $24,268 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,927 industrial engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $68,118 and $26,481 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in industrial engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent industrial engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the industrial engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The ie school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Industrial Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 91 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $917 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at Northwestern University

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 296 degrees to qualified ’s IE students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k list, U-M has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full U-M Industrial Engineering Report

3
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 369 ’s IE degrees to qualified students.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,853 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at Purdue

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 150 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $4,788 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Madison

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s IE degrees to 110 students in 2020-2021.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,036 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Industrial Engineering at UIUC

6

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 162 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also made our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $8,581 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ohio State.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Industrial Engineering at Ohio State University - Main Campus

7

University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s IE degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UM Dearborn, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UM Dearborn is $10,465 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Industrial Engineering at UM Dearborn

8
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 40 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

Oakland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $8,839 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at Oakland University

9

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 67 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

UIC also made our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $11,351 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UIC Industrial Engineering Report

10

With a ranking of #10, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 53 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

SIUE also took the #19 spot in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,825 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full SIUE Industrial Engineering Report

11
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Wayne State is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 69 ’s IE degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k list, Wayne State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State is $11,414 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at Wayne State University

12

Youngstown State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 35 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

Youngstown State University also took the #20 spot in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $9,972 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at Youngstown State University

13
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 61 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

WMU also made our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Western Michigan University is $15,552 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Industrial Engineering at Western Michigan University

14

With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Platteville is a public institution located in Platteville, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Platteville, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,334 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - Platteville.

Read more about Industrial Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

15
Bradley crest
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bradley is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 17 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

Bradley also took the #9 spot in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,753 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bradley University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Industrial Engineering at Bradley University

16

Milwaukee School of Engineering ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. MSOE is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s IE degrees to qualified students.

MSOE also made our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend MSOE is $19,868 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Milwaukee School of Engineering Industrial Engineering Report

17

Northern Illinois University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 70 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $11,499 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northern Illinois University Industrial Engineering Report

18

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 23 ’s IE degrees in 2020-2021.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $13,351 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Industrial Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

19

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 26 degrees to qualified ’s IE students in 2020-2021.

OHIO Athens also took the #17 spot in our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus is $18,991 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at OHIO Athens

20

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified ’s IE students in 2020-2021.

Kent State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,021 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Kent State.

Read more about Industrial Engineering at Kent State

21

With a ranking of #21, Lawrence Technological University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lawrence Technological University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Southfield, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Lawrence Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $32,466 for great lakes region ie students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lawrence Tech.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at Lawrence Tech

22
Kettering crest
Kettering University
Flint, Michigan

With a ranking of #22, Kettering University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IE Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kettering University is located in Flint, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s IE degrees to qualified students.

Kettering did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kettering is $30,263 for Great Lakes Region IE students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Industrial Engineering at Kettering University

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