Finding the Best Value Industrial Engineering School for You
The industrial engineering program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools
Florida State University earned the #1 spot for value among industrial engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $76,426 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $21,750. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $87,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $25,000. Industrial Engineering graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $75,110 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #4. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,273 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $81,592. That is a strong return on a $26,273 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #5 place for industrial engineering. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $24,633. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $69,672. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #6 for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
California State University East Bay landed the #7 spot for industrial engineering value this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, compared with $20,183 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $18,073. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $58,951. Set against $18,073 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #8 for value in industrial engineering this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,027 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $104,021. Set against $18,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Texas A And M University Kingsville earned the #9 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,892 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,531 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $44,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University landed the #10 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,375 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $77,850 early in their careers. Set against $19,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,427 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $81,379. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Northcentral Technical College placed #12 among the best values for industrial engineering. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #13 among the best values for industrial engineering. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $20,306. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $93,464 early in their careers. Set against $20,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso came in at #14 for value in industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $15,552. Industrial Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $45,467 early in their careers. Set against $15,552 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #15 for value in industrial engineering this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $22,247. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $57,281. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
San Jose State University landed the #16 spot for industrial engineering value this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Houston earned the #17 position for value in industrial engineering this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $76,147 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $22,330 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $78,313 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina A And T State University placed #19 among the best values for industrial engineering. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $82,459 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
West Virginia University placed #20 among the best values for industrial engineering. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,207 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Industrial Engineering graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $75,606 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University landed the #21 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $72,112. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #22 among the best values for industrial engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $19,691. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $87,226. Set against $19,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,026 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $41,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana Tech University earned the #24 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,125, while out-of-state students pay about $16,866. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Louisiana Tech University generally make around $65,739. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #25 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $73,092. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s industrial engineering value ranking:
Narrow Industrial Engineering Schools by Region
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 · 157 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 95 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.
[Industrial Engineering](/majors/engineering/ie-industrial-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.
