Compare 86 Industrial Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $81,717. Top programs: $114,688+.
With top graduates earning $114,688, Industrial Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $33K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
At the top, University of Southern California produces Industrial Engineering graduates earning $114,688, well above the $81,717 average across 86 programs. But SUNY Maritime College follows closely at $110,403 with a 79% acceptance rate, while Northwestern delivers $107,105—demonstrating how program outcomes vary independently of school selectivity.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Northwestern graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 2.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. USC achieves similar affordability with an 8.1% family burden, proving that top Industrial Engineering programs can deliver both strong outcomes and manageable debt.
Highest program earnings: $114,688
Strong outcomes ($110,403) with 79% acceptance
2.4% payment burden | Excellent
7.5% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $114,688 | 54 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #2 | Suny Maritime CollegePublic | $110,403 | 23 | $23,250 | Excellent | $38,700 | Good |
| #3 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $107,105 | 87 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Excellent |
| #4 | $103,886 | 96 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #5 | $101,070 | 395 | $21,672 | Excellent | $32,216 | Good | |
| #6 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $99,291 | 80 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Manageable |
| #7 | $98,602 | 54 | $23,750 | Excellent | $52,241 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $96,163 | 70 | $26,778 | Excellent | $35,625 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $95,405 | 122 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #10 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $95,290 | 68 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Manageable |
| #11 | $95,113 | 116 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Good | |
| #12 | $95,066 | 68 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | |
| #13 | $94,917 | 184 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #14 | University Of ArkansasPublic | $94,760 | 68 | $21,500 | Excellent | $28,086 | Good |
| #15 | $92,896 | 30 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,567 | Manageable | |
| #16 | $92,826 | 184 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $92,621 | 276 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Good | |
| #18 | $92,373 | 88 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | |
| #19 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $91,341 | 76 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Good |
| #20 | Kansas State UniversityPublic | $91,252 | 66 | $21,250 | Excellent | $27,283 | Good |
| #21 | University Of HoustonPublic | $90,094 | 38 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Excellent |
| #22 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $90,074 | 39 | $18,000 | Excellent | $17,000 | Excellent |
| #23 | $89,929 | 52 | $20,654 | Excellent | $31,890 | Good | |
| #24 | $89,689 | 228 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Manageable | |
| #25 | $88,806 | 58 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
