Industrial engineering offers a number of career opportunities. In order to seek out some of the higher-paying jobs, having a Master’s degree can make a big difference. There are a number of schools throughout the country that offer a master’s in industrial engineering, allowing you to pursue the educational experience that you desire. By exploring the schools in terms of what they offer and how their courses are provided, it ensures you find the right school for you and your career goals.
Career Options for a Degree in Industrial Engineering
Once you have a masters in industrial engineering, it can open up a number of career opportunities. You may want to work as an industrial engineering technician, serve as a health and safety engineer, or even work as a management analyst. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, industrial engineers have a job outlook that is 10% faster than average jobs. Additionally, the median pay is $88,020. Depending on the specialty of your degree, internships, and other experience, you may also earn more based on what you can offer to a future employer.
Top 5 Masters in Industrial Engineering Schools
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | New Mexico State University | New Mexico State University |
2 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana |
3 | Stanford University | Stanford, California |
4 | Clemson University | Clemson, South Carolina |
5 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, North Carolina |
Schools for a Master’s in Industrial Engineering
We have identified the top 20 schools where you can get a master’s in industrial engineering. The schools are located all over the country – and some schools offer online courses while others offer them on the campus. We have ranked the schools using two factors: the cost of tuition (more affordable tuition is ranked higher) along with the teacher to student ratio (with smaller class sizes ranking higher).
Best 20 Masters in Industrial Engineering Schools
New Mexico State University
At New Mexico State University, students can turn to the Department of Industrial Engineering for bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Online and on-campus options are available at NM State. Students will be able to learn about applying engineering methods in the real world. Some of the industries that students can concentrate in include Healthcare, Entertainment, Financial, and Manufacturing. The online master’s program has also been ranked as one of the top ones in the country.
School Overview
Purdue University
At the School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University, students can choose from several MS programs. There are four MS programs, including professional, online, thesis, and non-thesis. Some of the concentrations available at Purdue include Manufacturing, Human Factors, Operations Research, and Production Systems. It is also possible to get an MS and MBA dual degree, which is done in partnership with the Krannert School of Management.
School Overview
Stanford University
There are a few master’s programs available for students at Stanford University. Students can choose to obtain a traditional MS or obtain a dual and Joint MS. It is also possible to take the courses online and part-time to accommodate working professionals. Areas of specialty for the degree include Financial Analytics, Operations and Analytics, Technology and Engineering Management, and Computational Social Science.
School Overview
Clemson University
Clemson University offers a Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering. The program is designed for working professionals, which also means that the entirety of the courses is offered online. Prior to going into the program, students will need to have obtained a bachelor’s degree. The 30-credit hour program focuses on such things as supply chain logistics and a Capstone Design Project.
School Overview
North Carolina State University
The Master in Industrial Engineering (MIE) program at North Carolina State University provides a degree where there is no need for thesis research or an oral examination. Students will need to go through the general requirements as well as what is known as a Breadth Requirement. Some of the courses that students will take include Supply Chain, Computer Science, and Economic Analytics and Decision Making. There is also a project work component for the degree that is optional.
School Overview
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida offers an Industrial Engineering MS. UCF has a reputation for being one of the most innovative universities in the country. Students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science will have access to a number of internships and research opportunities. Some of the concentration areas include Interactive Simulation and Training Systems, Human Systems Engineering/Ergonomics, and Quality Systems Engineering. The faculty is world-renowned and a number of employers are known for hiring directly out of UCF.
School Overview
Louisiana Tech University
The College of Engineering & Science at Louisiana Tech University makes it possible to get a degree in Industrial Engineering. The school is not only considered one of the best online programs but also one of the most affordable. It is a nationally recognized program that allows students to concentrate on industrial engineering with courses in such things as Engineering & Science Research Methods, Project Management, and Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and Quality Control. Online and on-campus options are available at Louisiana Tech University. There are three MS programs including course only, thesis, and practicum. Students can obtain certificates such as Lean, Six Sigma Green Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt while pursuing this degree.
School Overview
Binghamton University
Students can choose an MS and PhD from the Systems Science and Industrial Engineering (SSIE) Department at Binghamton University. There is a significant amount of faculty-student collaboration and teamwork when seeking this degree. There are MS degrees in industrial and systems engineering as well as systems science. Internships, research opportunities, and more are available at the school. The Watson Institute for Systems Excellence, too, can provide advanced studies.
School Overview
Auburn University
The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University makes it possible to get a Master of Industrial and Systems Engineering degree. There are both online and on-campus programs to choose from. Completing the program involves taking graduate level courses on linear Programming, Production Economics, and more. Students will also need one hour of a graduate seminar.
School Overview
George Mason University
There are three masters’ programs at George Mason University for industrial engineering. Students can choose from Systems Engineering, Data Analytics, and Operations Research. 24 credits of the master’s degree can also be applied should anyone want to pursue a PhD. Students can pursue a number of different connections across the industry, including internships, acclaimed faculty, and even career opportunities upon graduation.
School Overview
Arizona State University
Students at Arizona State University can choose to pursue a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering online as well as on the campus. The MS program is considered to be one of the top 50 programs in the U.S. Students will have access to courses that are taught by world-class faculty. The 30-hour program offers such courses as Web-Enabled Decision Support Systems and Simulating Stochastic Systems. Some of the elective courses make it possible for students to explore careers across a number of industries upon graduating from the program.
School Overview
New York University
At the Tandon School of Engineering, New York University offers an MS in Industrial Engineering. Students will learn to apply a number of technological initiatives in order to achieve business goals. The curriculum is flexible with courses offered on the campus as well as online. There are also a large number of electives to help students diversify. The school also boasts a 97% job placement following graduation.
School Overview
Northwestern University
The McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern offers all sorts of engineering programs. The school is focused on innovating when it comes to the science of decision making. The department was founded in 1958 and bridges the industries of management and engineering. 25 other departments on campus make it possible for students to actively collaborate in order to diversify their education. Some of the areas that they specialize in include Healthcare Engineering, Logistics & Operations, and Optimization.
School Overview
Texas A&M University
At Texas A&M University, students can explore a number of degree programs at the Wm Michael Barnes ’64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Students can choose from on-campus or online programs in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management. There are both Masters of Engineering (ME) and Masters of Science (MS) degrees. Areas of concentration include data science, operations research, manufacturing, and health and human systems engineering. Students can also choose the thesis or non-thesis option depending on whether they’ll be seeking a PhD later on.
School Overview
Pennsylvania State University
The College of Engineering at PennState offers quite a few programs for students to choose from. At the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, students have access to a beautiful space that invigorates learning. It is possible to seek out an MS in Industrial Engineering with both a non-thesis and thesis track. There’s also a Master in Engineering in Industrial Engineering. Collaborative degrees are available and students will have access to a wide array of student organizations, including the Industrial Engineering Graduate Association.
School Overview
Cornell University
Various graduate programs are available at Cornell University. Students can choose from Master of Engineering and PhD programs. Further, students can choose to take the courses online or on campus – either in Ithaca or New York City. Concentrations and Minors for students include Applied Operations Research, Data Analytics, Financial Engineering, and more.
School Overview
University of Southern California
There are several master’s degree programs at the University of Southern California. Within the Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, students can choose from an MS in Engineering Management, Industrial and Systems Engineering, or a joint degree of an MS in ISE and an MBA. Additionally, students can choose to diversify with an MS in such things as Health Systems Management Engineering or Systems Architecting and Engineering. Many of the courses are offered online as well as on campus, allowing students to choose a hybrid curriculum.
School Overview
University of Michigan-Dearborn
The College of Engineering & Computer Science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn offers an MSE in Industrial & Systems Engineering. The 30-credit hour program offers on-campus and online courses – students can choose based on what works for them. Specializations for the degree include Program Management & Product Development, Information Systems Management, Quality Systems Design, and Human Factors/Ergonomics among others.
School Overview
Dartmouth College
The Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth allows students to pursue a master of engineering or a master of science. Students enrolled in one of the engineering programs have the opportunity to form a network of mentors, attend conferences, and take creative risks. There are various dual degree programs, including working with the Tuck School of Business for an MBA or working with The Geisel School of Medicine for an MD.
School Overview
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology offers a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering. Students in the program will focus on modeling, analysis, and solution of problems that occur in such areas as warehousing and manufacturing. The MSIE program is 30 credit hours with some flexibility in the courses in which they can take. Students can opt to not complete a thesis or capstone independent work.
School Overview
Masters in Industrial Engineering Ranking Methodology
The schools have been ranked using two different criteria. First, schools were ranked based on the tuition. The schools with more affordable tuition were given a higher score. Then, schools were ranked based on the teacher to student ratio. The schools with smaller class sizes were given a higher score. The scores were added up, which allowed us to rank the schools with the best schools being listed at the top.
The tuition cost for the schools were based on a full school year (two semesters). In instances where the college or university is a state school, in-state tuition costs were used. The cost listed is that of tuition and fees – books and housing costs were not incorporated into the costs for the purposes of ranking.
Our goal is to rank all of the schools using the latest and most accurate data. If you work for one of the schools listed and notice an error, please contact us so that we can address the issue.
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