by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ie Industrial Engineering](/majors/engineering/ie-industrial-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a ie industrial engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 85 schools on the early-career earnings of their ie industrial engineering graduates.
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Below are the schools whose ie industrial engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in ie industrial engineering, no school beat Northwestern University this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the ie industrial engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $137,306.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Southern California earned it the #2 place for ie industrial engineering. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $137,590 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in ie industrial engineering will find them at Suny Maritime College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Throggs Neck, Suny Maritime College is a public institution. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from Suny Maritime College make a median of around $123,352 per year.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in ie industrial engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $121,125 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for ie industrial engineering. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Ie Industrial Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of about $118,425 a year early in their careers.
Lehigh University landed the #6 spot for ie industrial engineering salaries this year. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from Lehigh University make a median of around $121,172 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot for ie industrial engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor make a median of around $109,239 per year.
University Of Rhode Island ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ie industrial engineering schools. University Of Rhode Island is a public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from University Of Rhode Island make a median of around $93,248 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #9 position for ie industrial engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Ie Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $110,022 a year early in their careers.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for ie industrial engineering. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ie industrial engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute typically earn about $117,724 annually.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #11 spot for ie industrial engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Students who complete the ie industrial engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $103,958.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ie industrial engineering schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the ie industrial engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,342.
Northeastern University landed the #13 spot for ie industrial engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from Northeastern University make a median of around $110,414 per year.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ie industrial engineering schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Ie Industrial Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $100,438 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ie industrial engineering schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Students who complete the ie industrial engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $109,185.
University Of Arkansas earned the #16 position for ie industrial engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Arkansas is a public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students who complete the ie industrial engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,211.
Kettering University earned the #17 position for ie industrial engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Flint, Kettering University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ie industrial engineering degree recipients from Kettering University typically earn about $94,052 annually.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ie industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. After graduating, ie industrial engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh typically earn about $96,510 annually.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #19 spot for ie industrial engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the ie industrial engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,365.
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #20 position for ie industrial engineering graduate earnings this year. North Carolina A And T State University is a public school located in the city of Greensboro. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from North Carolina A And T State University make a median of around $91,914 per year.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ie industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. Students who complete the ie industrial engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,907.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ie industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. After graduating, ie industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign typically earn about $98,221 annually.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #23 position for ie industrial engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Ie Industrial Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of about $103,679 a year early in their careers.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for ie industrial engineering. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Early-career ie industrial engineering graduates from Rochester Institute Of Technology make a median of around $105,893 per year.
University Of Houston ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ie industrial engineering schools. University Of Houston is a public school located in the city of Houston. After graduating, ie industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Houston typically earn about $100,544 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning ie industrial engineering graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Ie Industrial Engineering rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries ie industrial engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 85 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
