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Industrial engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an industrial engineer. Industrial engineers usually study industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or industrial technology. 78% of industrial engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 11,354 real industrial engineer resumes to see exactly what industrial engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for industrial engineers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.
There are also many online industrial engineer courses to help get the education required to be an industrial engineer.
There are certain industrial engineer certifications that you should consider. These industrial engineer certifications include Six Sigma Green Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt.
What education do you need to become an industrial engineer?
What degree do you need to be an industrial engineer?
- Bachelor's, 78%
- Master's, 12%
- Associate, 7%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become an industrial engineer?
- Business, 8%
- Other Majors, 25%
Most common colleges for industrial engineers
| Industrial engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Purdue University | 12.43% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 8.39% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 7.79% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 6.52% |
| Clemson University | 5.79% |
Best majors for industrial engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial Engineering | 49.7% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 9.5% |
| 3 | Industrial Technology | 8.1% |
| 4 | Business | 7.8% |
| 5 | Engineering And Industrial Management | 5.4% |
Best colleges for industrial engineers
The best colleges for industrial engineers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
An industrial engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for industrial engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become industrial engineers.
1. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
6. Clemson University
Clemson, SC • Private
In-state tuition
$15,374
Enrollment
19,564
7. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,530
Enrollment
4,571
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
9. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
10. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,930
Enrollment
5,030
20 best online courses for industrial engineers
Advertising disclosure
1. Business Analysis Process
The Business Analysis Process course will give you a foundational understanding of the process of business analysis and will introduce you to a framework that can be used within a variety of industries and organizations. You’ll see how an analyst assesses a business problem, prepares business requirements, and implements a solution. You will learn how to identify stakeholders, to analyze them, and to define their role in a business analysis project. You’ll also learn how to gather requirements...
2. Engineering and Product Design Processes
Welcome to “Engineering and Product Design Processes!” In this short course, you will learn how engineering design processes and product design processes are carried out. After the course, you will be familiar with the steps in both design processes. You will also be familiar with the main goal of each design process, as well as their similarities and differences...
3. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
4. Process Capability Analysis
A Powerful Tool Set for Understanding your Manufacturing Process Relative to Your Customers' Quality Expectations...
5. Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Lean Operations Management
Lean Business Operations Management, Lean Process and Systems Improvement in Production and Industry. MBA style course...
6. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management
Operations Management Training Program (Course 8 of 8)...
7. Process Mining with Celonis
Learn and practice how to combine data science and process mapping techniques to visualize processes with real data...
8. Business Analysis: Data Flow Diagrams to Visualize Workflows
Process Modeling Techniques for Requirements Elicitation and Workflow Analysis - Now with Chat GPT and Jasper Demos...
9. Banking Credit Analysis Process (for Bankers)
Course for Bankers, Consultants and managers to Understand Credit Analysis Process from Indian Context...
10. Reliability and Maintenance Engineering - FMEA
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - A mechanical engineering approach to risk management of plant and machinery...
11. Process Improvement
#1 Process Improvement course: The step by step guide on how to deliver effective and lasting process improvements...
12. Process/Chemical Engineering - BOOTCAMP 2021
The only course with over 10 hours practical knowledge about main process equipment Design, Control and Safety...
13. Business Process Mapping
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14. Complete neural signal processing and analysis: Zero to hero
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15. Flexible Budgets, Standard Costs, & Variance Analysis
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16. Value Stream Mapping Masterclass: Become a VSM Specialist
Get Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Trained Become a Certified Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Specialist Earn PDUs CPDs...
17. Statistics / Data Analysis: Survey Data and Likert Scales
How to Process Survey Data and Analyze Likert Scales In SPSS...
18. Aspen Plus - Basic Process Modeling
Learn how to model Basic Industrial and Chemical Processes!...
19. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!
Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...
20. Aspen HYSYS - Basic Process Modeling
Learn how to model basic Industrial and Chemical Processes!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for industrial engineers
The most affordable schools for industrial engineers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, california state university - long beach, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for industrial engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for industrial engineers.
1. United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$1,080
Cost of attendance
6,646
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
7. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
8. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
9. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
10. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for industrial engineers
The hardest universities for industrial engineers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for industrial engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for industrial engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
9. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,380
10. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for industrial engineers
The easiest schools for industrial engineers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an industrial engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for industrial engineers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
8. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)
Lemont Furnace, PA • Private
Admissions rate
80%
SAT average
1,067
9. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
10. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
Average industrial engineer salary by education level
| Industrial engineer education level | Industrial engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $86,937 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $78,849 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $68,128 |
Industrial engineer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025