2027 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Engineering Schools
New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned the #1 spot for value among industrial engineering schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $71,329. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in industrial engineering will find it at Pennsylvania State University World Campus, which ranked #3. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356. Students borrow a median of $26,062 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $61,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University At Buffalo came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial engineering schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $24,750. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $72,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Suny At Binghamton one of the best values for industrial engineering. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $73,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
Suny Maritime College landed the #6 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Located in the city of Throggs Neck, Suny Maritime College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,589, compared with $19,159 for out-of-state students. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $91,470. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. Suny Maritime College admits about 72% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #7 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,925 in student loans. Industrial Engineering graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $78,501 early in their careers. Set against $26,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College placed #8 among the best values for industrial engineering. Located in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,972, with out-of-state students paying around $26,958. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $78,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #9 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $25,250. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $76,707 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial engineering graduates is $25,000. Industrial Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $78,975 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for industrial engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $72,764. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned the #12 position for value in industrial engineering this year. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Industrial Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Early-career industrial engineering graduates make about $74,787. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about 64% of applicants.
Lehigh University came in at #13 for value in industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,834 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $81,142. Set against $23,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
New York University placed #14 among the best values for industrial engineering. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete the industrial engineering program here. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
