Why This Matters

  • INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING JOBS INCREASING 8%

    The job outlook for industrial engineering is strong, with 23,800 new jobs expected by 2028. The versatility of this position contributes to job growth, with opportunities in a variety of fields.

  • 118,300 MANAGEMENT ANALYST JOBS EXPECTED

    An industrial engineering degree also prepares individuals for consulting jobs focusing on improving efficiency at various companies. These jobs are expected to increase by 14% by 2028.

  • INCREASE YOUR SALARY BY $16,340 PER YEAR

    Industrial production managers, who typically have an advanced degree, earn $103,380 per year on average. Comparatively, industrial engineers with a bachelor’s earn an average of $87,040 annually.

Our Research

A Master of Science (MS) is the most common graduate degree awarded in industrial engineering. Some programs may have an industrial and systems engineering focus. This list specifically targets master’s degrees for students seeking advanced training in industrial engineering.

All of the programs can be completed online, although some are also offered on-campus or in on-campus/online hybrid formats. You can select the delivery method that works best for your schedule and learning preferences.

We only included programs that are regionally accredited, guaranteeing that they meet high standards of quality in higher education. There are also many programs accredited by ABET, which awards programmatic accreditation to engineering and technology programs.

Once we narrowed our list to the top programs, we evaluated them based on faculty, cost, course offerings, flexibility, and reputation. We then gave each program an Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 61 hours to write this article
  • 133 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 269 education programs we compared

The Top 10 Best Online Master's in Industrial Engineering Degree Programs

Louisiana Tech University

Intelligent Pick

Louisiana Tech University’s Master of Science in Engineering, Industrial Engineering concentration has received extensive recognition for its quality and affordability. The curriculum consists of 36 credits and includes required core courses like Introduction to Engineering & Science Research Methods and required concentration courses, such as Economics & Decision Making. You also get to customize your coursework by selecting four elective classes that range from Engineering Administration to Theory of Probability. At $258 per credit, Louisiana Tech’s program is by far the most affordable of all the options on this list.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $258
  • Credits required to graduate: 36
  • Academic calendar: Quarter system
  • Graduation rate: 48%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 318-257-2345

Learn more 

Columbia University

Best Faculty

Columbia University’s Master of Science in Systems Engineering program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in engineering, mathematics, or a related field who want an education that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be managed, designed, and operated. As a systems engineering student, you take a comprehensive approach to the study of engineering, aiming to understand how all the various parts integrate and contribute to the whole. In addition to five core courses, you have the flexibility to choose five elective courses, which are divided into these domains: Infrastructure and Sustainability Electives; Mechanical, Electrical and Computer Systems Electives; Biological Systems Electives; and Management Electives. These allow you to craft a curriculum that is simultaneously rigorous, comprehensive, and tailored to your interests and goals. You learn from faculty who are experts in their fields and bring a wealth of practical experience to the classroom.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $2,272
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 95%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 212-854-6447

Learn more

New York University

Best Scholarships

New York University’s Master of Science in Industrial Engineering program offers a rigorous, elective-heavy curriculum that can be tailored to fit your specific interests and objectives. You can choose from electives in diverse areas like construction management, electrical engineering, manufacturing, and management of technology, among others. In addition to 18 credit hours of electives, you complete a 12-credit, four-course core curriculum consisting of these classes: Quality Control and Improvement, Facility Planning and Design, Factory Simulation, and Production Science. The curriculum as a whole focuses on teaching you to see patterns and search for similarities in concepts, laws, and models across disciplines. From there, you can adapt, integrate, and exploit these similarities in innovative ways, drawing on the multidisciplinary nature of the program. Furthermore, NYU offers a range of competitive scholarships for qualified applicants.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,942
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 85%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 646-997-3623

Learn more 

Georgia Institute of Technology

Most Innovative Curriculum

Georgia Institute of Technology’s Master of Science in Industrial Engineering program has a curriculum that emphasizes modeling, analysis, and solving problems arising in the traditional domains of manufacturing, warehousing, and supply chain systems. The degree requires 30 credit hours, and 9 are reserved for elective courses that enable you to specialize in areas like operations research, statistics, management, or mechanical engineering. Whether you intend to enter the job market directly after graduation or to pursue a doctoral degree, this program can be a good fit. Georgia Tech’s industrial engineering program has a strong record of placing graduates at some of the foremost companies in the world.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $586 (in-state); $1,215 (out-of-state)
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 88%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 404-894-2300

Learn more

University of Southern California

Best Dual Degree Program

University of Southern California’s Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering offers flexible routes to degree completion. The 100% online degree can be completed in 1.5 to 2 years of full-time study or 2.5 to 3 years of part-time study. As an online student, you learn from the same professors and engage in the same rigorous coursework as on-campus students. The program is a good fit for industrial engineering program graduates who want to deepen their understanding of the field, as well as for students with an undergraduate degree in a related technical field who want to expand their knowledge to leverage new career opportunities. If you are interested in pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree as well, USC offers a dual degree MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering/MBA program (available only on campus).

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $2,199
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 92%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 213-740-4488

Learn more 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Best for Advanced Analytics

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Master of Science in Industrial Engineering program offers the unique opportunity to complete an advanced analytics concentration as part of your degree, enhancing your transcript and employability. With 32 credit hours allocated for elective courses, UIUC’s program offers one of the most flexible and customizable curricula in this field. This means you can work with your advisor to craft a sequence of courses that best fits your needs and goals. Additionally, you complete a required 4-credit independent study, which gives you yet another opportunity to make your degree as tailored to your interests as possible.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,110
  • Credits required to graduate: 36
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 86%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 217-333-2252

Learn more

Purdue University

Best for Human Factors Engineering

Purdue University’s Master of Science in Industrial Engineering program is ranked #1 among online industrial engineering master’s programs by U.S. News & World Report. The 30-credit curriculum allows you to choose one of two degree paths: Master of Science in Industrial Engineering (MSIE) or an Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Engineering (MSE/MS) with a concentration in industrial engineering. Curricular options are flexible and varied, which is why you work with an academic advisor to craft a plan of study for your degree. The program is designed for working professionals and is flexible enough to allow you to take time off if needed. Most students begin by taking one course per semester.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,139 (in-state); $1,430 (out-of-state)
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 73%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 765-494-4873

Learn more

Texas A&M University

Best Electives

Texas A&M University Engineering’s ​​Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering program consists of 10 courses (worth 30 credits) that cover the breadth of industrial engineering and essential modeling techniques and tools as well as electives that match your interests. The required courses are Logistics and Inventory Control; Quality Engineering; Human Factors; Engineering Economy; Data Analytics, Models and Tools; Optimization Models and Tools; and Simulation Models and Tools. The remaining three courses are electives either within or outside the industrial engineering department. This is a practice-oriented, non-thesis degree that prepares you to immediately put your education to use in the job market.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $555.56
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 64%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 979-845-7200

Learn more

North Carolina State University

Best Career Services

North Carolina State University’s Master of Industrial Engineering program is designed for military, part-time, and co-op students preparing for a career in industry, government, or consulting. You have the option to complete the degree through a combination of projects and coursework or through coursework alone. The curriculum includes a breadth requirement, which means you choose one course from four of these domains: Economic Analysis and Decision Making, Human Factors and Ergonomics, Manufacturing Systems, Production Systems, and Systems Analysis and Optimization. Additionally, you take a  course from the Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics group. Beyond these requirements, you have the freedom to customize your classes. You also benefit from extensive career services to help you translate your degree into a job.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $505.28 (in state); $1,504.56 (out of state)
  • Credits required to graduate: 33
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 79%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 919-515-3263

Check the meta description.Learn more

University of Central Florida

Best Simulation Modeling

University of Central Florida’s Master of Science in Industrial Engineering program has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its innovative, high-quality degree program. The curriculum is flexible and customizable, offering you a choice of six different concentration areas: Human Systems Engineering/Ergonomics, Interactive Simulation and Training Systems, Operations Research, Quality Systems Engineering, Simulation Modeling and Analysis, or Systems Engineering. Further, you can elect to pursue a thesis or non-thesis option, depending on what best fits your needs and goals. If you are a Florida resident, this is one of the most affordable MSIE programs you can find.

Things to consider:

  • Cost per credit: $327.32 (in-state); $1,151.72 (out-of-state)
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 72%

More program information:

  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 407-823-4366

Learn more 

Other Online Master’s in Industrial Engineering Programs to Consider

Best Online Master's in Industrial Engineering Degree Program
01
loader Image

What You Should Know About This Degree

Industrial engineering is a versatile degree that draws on a range of skills and aptitudes. Successful industrial engineers must be adept at math, problem-solving, critical-thinking, communicating, and creativity. If you are considering entering or advancing in this field, it’s helpful to reflect on your natural abilities and if you possess the qualities necessary to be successful in this field.

As more manufacturing jobs are automated and outsourced, the need for industrial production managers is expected to be somewhat stagnant in the coming decade. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts little or no change in the number of industrial production manager jobs through 2028, meaning competition for these jobs will be stiff. Individuals with degrees will have an advantage, but be prepared to broaden your job search to consulting and other types of jobs for the best career prospects.

Industrial engineers who seek to advance in the field need to obtain a state-issued Professional Engineer (PE) license. Licensure eligibility requirements include a degree from an ABET-accredited program, work experience, and successful completion of exams. There are also a number of voluntary certifications for industrial production managers, such as the Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) credential from the American Productions and Inventory Control Society (APICS).

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Master’s in Industrial Management programs:

  • Am I eligible for this program? Because many master’s programs in industrial engineering seek to build upon existing skills and knowledge, they may require students to have an undergraduate degree and/or prior professional experience in industrial engineering or a related field. Check the program’s eligibility requirements to ensure you have the right educational and work background before applying.
  • Does this program offer the focus I want? Some programs have specific orientations in areas like business, logistics, or systems management. Consider your career goals to help you find a program that aligns with your particular interests.

Reviewing the admission requirements and application deadlines for programs is also an important part of researching industrial engineering degree programs. You will want to gather your application materials ahead of time to ensure a smooth admissions process. For more information, you can contact the school’s admissions department.

You should also start researching options for funding your graduate education, including loans, scholarships, assistantships, and employee tuition benefits if you are currently employed.