Compare 86 Industrial Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $95,568. Top programs: $138,720+.
With top graduates earning $139K, Industrial Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $43K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 86 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not brand recognition.
Northwestern University leads with Industrial Engineering graduates earning $138,720—well above the $95,568 average across all 86 programs. But the more compelling story is how public universities close the gap: Georgia Tech (#2) delivers $128,003 at a $7,666 net price, and Virginia Tech (#5) reaches $116,641 with a 55% acceptance rate. Prestige alone doesn't predict these outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden does. Northwestern graduates borrow just $15,000 and carry a 1.8% payment burden, earning an 'Excellent' GPS affordability rating. Even when parent loans are factored in, the family burden sits at just 5.4%—still 'Excellent.' For a program producing $138,720 in median earnings, that debt clears fast. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $138,720
Strong outcomes ($116,641) with 55% acceptance rate
1.8% payment burden | Excellent
5.4% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $138,720 | 55 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Excellent |
| #2 | $128,003 | 382 | $21,672 | Excellent | $32,216 | Excellent | |
| #3 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $121,498 | 39 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Good |
| #4 | $117,930 | 170 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Excellent | |
| #5 | $116,641 | 191 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Good | |
| #6 | $112,797 | 72 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #7 | $112,150 | 57 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #8 | $111,672 | 47 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,324 | Good | |
| #9 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $111,430 | 84 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Good |
| #10 | $110,711 | 118 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Good | |
| #11 | $109,575 | 43 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Excellent | |
| #12 | $107,093 | 43 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Good | |
| #13 | $107,031 | 262 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Good | |
| #14 | $106,932 | 156 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #15 | $105,313 | 41 | $26,778 | Excellent | $35,625 | Good | |
| #16 | $104,758 | 154 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Good | |
| #17 | University Of LouisvillePublic | $104,538 | 28 | $20,500 | Excellent | $20,717 | Excellent |
| #18 | $103,143 | 79 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | |
| #19 | Suny Maritime CollegePublic | $102,563 | 23 | $23,250 | Excellent | $38,700 | Good |
| #20 | $102,439 | 77 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Excellent | |
| #21 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $102,222 | 28 | $22,750 | Excellent | $17,858 | Excellent |
| #22 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $101,990 | 16 | $21,250 | Excellent | $16,378 | Excellent |
| #23 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $101,653 | 43 | $21,221 | Excellent | $28,923 | Good |
| #24 | $101,554 | 21 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,567 | Manageable | |
| #25 | $101,547 | 34 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,866 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
