2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in Wisconsin
[Industrial Engineering](/majors/engineering/ie-industrial-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in Wisconsin
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Northcentral Technical College the best value for a degree in industrial engineering in Wisconsin. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Set against $11,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at University Of Wisconsin Platteville, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,694 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $76,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,536 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $68,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #4 place for industrial engineering. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $23,577 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $80,435. That is a strong return on a $23,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
A rank of #5 makes Milwaukee School Of Engineering one of the best values for industrial engineering. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,480. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Milwaukee School Of Engineering generally make around $71,112. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Milwaukee School Of Engineering admits about 59% of applicants.
More Industrial Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
