2027 Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Industrial Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for industrial engineering students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Industrial Engineering in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the industrial engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Industrial Engineering
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for industrial engineering. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 94 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $89,811 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $17,912 in student loans.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for industrial engineering. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 263 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $93,464 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,306 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in industrial engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 380 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $81,379. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,427 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in industrial engineering, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 147 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $80,435 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $23,577 in student loans.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best industrial engineering schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 157 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Industrial Engineering graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $80,876 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #6 among the best industrial engineering schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 95 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $78,313 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,330.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Lawrence Technological University earned the #7 position for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 15 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Lawrence Technological University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $74,924 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,799.
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University Of Southern Indiana placed #8 among the best industrial engineering schools. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. University Of Southern Indiana awarded about 53 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $47,216. Typical student debt for the program is $21,999.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from University Of Southern Indiana
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $57,281 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,247 to complete this degree.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #10 position for industrial engineering this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 58 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Industrial Engineering graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $73,092 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #11 among the best industrial engineering schools. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 36 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Dearborn in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Typical student debt for the program is $26,516.
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Oakland University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Oakland University graduates 58% of students within six years. Oakland University awarded about 24 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $77,169. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete this degree.
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Bradley University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best industrial engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bradley University awarded about 16 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $68,166 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,788.
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Western Michigan University earned the #14 position for industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 32 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $74,670 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,981.
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Kettering University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best industrial engineering schools. Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Kettering University in the most recent year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $85,105 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,913.
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Wayne State University landed the #16 spot for industrial engineering this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 46 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Wayne State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Wayne State University earn around $77,815 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,340.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at Wayne State University
Northern Illinois University landed the #17 spot for industrial engineering this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Illinois University awarded about 42 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $72,112 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Northern Illinois University
Milwaukee School Of Engineering came in at #18 for industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Milwaukee School Of Engineering graduates 67% of students within six years. Milwaukee School Of Engineering awarded about 14 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Milwaukee School Of Engineering generally make around $71,112. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Milwaukee School Of Engineering
University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #19 position for industrial engineering this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Platteville awarded about 14 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $76,952 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates carry a median of $27,694 in student loans.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from University Of Wisconsin Platteville
Wright State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best industrial engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $49,077. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete this degree.
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Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies earned the #21 position for industrial engineering this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies earn around $77,456 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,750.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 21 schools evaluated.
- 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.