One of the keys to a successful business, from manufacturers to amusement parks to medical offices, is constantly striving to evolve: to outdo the competition by doing things better and more efficiently. Figuring out ways to enact such improvements is precisely the job of an industrial engineer. Unlike degrees for some other engineering specialties, industrial engineering programs generally include a business component that teaches students how to look at a problem from multiple perspectives. As a result, industrial engineers might be asked to determine improvements for a customer service experience one day, then called upon to create efficiency in a manufacturing process the next. If you like puzzles and are always trying to find a fresh take on an old idea, an online industrial engineering degree could be right for you.

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Featured Online Colleges for Industrial Engineering in 2018-19

If you're interested in finding the perfect online industrial engineering degree program for you, you've come to the right place. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and analyzing it with our proprietary methodology (details at the bottom of this page), we have identified several excellent colleges that offer online industrial engineering degree programs. Take a look at our list of 10 featured colleges for industrial engineering and see which one might be right for you.

Visit our methodologies page to learn more about how we use official data to evaluate schools.

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Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Tuition & Fees
$8,922
Distance Education Participation
25%
Location
Kingsville, TX
School Type
4-year

The Master of Science in industrial engineering degree program available at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is offered 100 percent online, although it can also be completed on-campus if desired. Courses are asynchronous (meaning they can be taken by students at any time) and are constructed to emphasize fundamental concepts of the field, practical knowledge of modern engineering, challenges of engineering and advice for advancing in the field. The program can be taken as either a 30- credit thesis track or a 36-credit coursework track, and it can be completed from anywhere in the world, including from other countries without the need for a visa. With the highest admissions rate of all 10 colleges featured on this list and the third-highest percentage of industrial engineering degrees awarded in 2015, Texas A&M University-Kingsville was a shoo-in to be featured on this page.

Accreditation:

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Location:

955 University Boulevard
Kingsville, Texas 78363
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New Mexico State University

Tuition & Fees
$6,686
Distance Education Participation
43%
Location
Las Cruces, NM
School Type
4-year

The distance education opportunities available at New Mexico State University, or NMSU, are diverse and include bachelor's degree completion programs, master's degrees, doctoral programs and even certificates. The university's offerings include a 30-credit Master of Science in industrial engineering degree program that focuses on engineering in a managerial context. Students have the choice of either completing a final project or to do coursework instead. The program's courses can all be taken online; students do need to be on campus for the final oral exam, however. Coming in No.2 for the highest percentage of industrial engineering degrees awarded in 2015, it would seem that NMSU is a popular choice for industrial engineering majors, and it's not hard to see why.

Accreditation:

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Location:

2850 Weddell Street
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8001
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Oklahoma State University

Tuition & Fees
$9,019
Distance Education Participation
40%
Location
Stillwater, OK
School Type
4-year

A Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management, or IE&M, degree is offered online through Oklahoma State University. In this program, students have the opportunity to learn about industrial engineering from both a broad and a narrow perspective, with particular attention to the business and social parameters of the field; the university's website stresses that "industrial engineering is the most people-oriented discipline within the engineering family," and the priorities of its program reflect this viewpoint. Undergraduate courses in engineering are also available online, for those who are working their way up to the master's level. Between all of this and the fifth-highest admissions rate out of this list, Oklahoma State is clearly worth pointing out to prospective industrial engineers.

Accreditation:

  • Higher Learning Commission

Location:

107 Whitehurst
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-1015
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University of Central Florida

Tuition & Fees
$6,368
Distance Education Participation
57%
Location
Orlando, FL
School Type
4-year

At the University of Central Florida, or UCF, students can enroll in more than 60 distance learning programs, including both bachelor's and master's degrees. Most relevant to this discussion, of course, is the university's online Master of Science in industrial engineering degree program, which offers quite a lot of versatile options to its students. This 30-credit program can be pursued as either a thesis or non-thesis option, and it offers multiple areas of emphasis to specialize in, such as:

  • Human Systems Engineering/Ergonomics
  • Interactive Simulation and Training Systems
  • Operations Research
  • Quality Systems Engineering
  • Simulation Modeling and Analysis
  • Systems Engineering

UCF Online offers more than 60 programs through distance learning, including bachelor's and master's degrees. Between the number of different programs and the high graduation rate (the third-highest graduation rate on this entire list), it seems clear that the quality of education at UCF must be quite high indeed.

Accreditation:

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Location:

4000 Central Florida Boulevard
Orlando, Florida 32816
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North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Tuition & Fees
$9,101
Distance Education Participation
41%
Location
Raleigh, NC
School Type
4-year

North Carolina State University appears to be a popular choice for prospective industrial engineers, as it not only has the second-highest graduation rate of our list, but also the fourth-highest percentage of industrial engineering degrees awarded in 2015. The Master in Industrial Engineering, or MIE, degree program at North Carolina State is a 33-credit program that can be completed online. Because this degree is intended for self-supporting adults, including those in the military, no thesis or final examination is required. A minimum of 21 credits must be taken in industrial engineering. To individualize their degree, students have the option of completing a concentration in another department as well.

Accreditation:

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Location:

2101 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7001
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Clemson University

Tuition & Fees
$15,374
Distance Education Participation
25%
Location
Clemson, SC
School Type
4-year

Adult professionals interested in an industrial engineering program at Clemson University can look into the school's online Master of Engineering (MEngr) degree. The program, which launched in 2008, offers asynchronous learning through web-based technologies, including lectures that can be downloaded to different types of devices. Students complete 10 multi-disciplinary courses as part of the degree program and take advanced classes that focus on the capital projects supply chain.

Clemson University has the honor of achieving top marks in not one, but two of the metrics we used to determine the schools to feature on this list. With the highest graduation rank and the highest percentage of industrial engineering degrees awarded in 2015 out of the 10 schools listed here, Clemson is certainly a university worth recommending.

Accreditation:

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Location:

201 Sikes Hall
Clemson, South Carolina 29634
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The University of Tennessee

Tuition & Fees
$13,006
Distance Education Participation
35%
Location
Knoxville, TN
School Type
4-year

Among the master's degree programs offered online through the college of engineering at the University of Tennessee is a Master of Science in industrial engineering program that provides the option of an engineering management concentration. Prospective students can complete the degree entirely online, on-campus or through a hybrid format. Additionally, this program is just one of more than a dozen master's programs available online. Five different master's degree programs are offered through the university's college of engineering.

The University of Tennessee garnered a spot on this list for both the quality of its program and its solid scores in our metrics, scoring the No.4 position for both graduation rate and admissions rate.

Accreditation:

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Location:

527 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
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University of Michigan-Dearborn

Tuition & Fees
$12,930
Distance Education Participation
31%
Location
Dearborn, MI
School Type
4-year

The 30-credit Master of Science in Engineering, or MSE, in industrial and systems engineering degree program available through the University of Michigan-Dearborn can be completed online, on-campus or through a combination of both options. The degree program gives students the opportunity to specialize in different areas within the MSE degree, including:

  • Advanced Manufacturing & Automation
  • Human Factors/Ergonomics
  • Information Systems Management
  • Operations Research & Management Science
  • Program Management & Product Development
  • Quality Systems Design

The quality and popularity of the education at the University of Michigan-Dearborn is reflected in the school's No.5 ranking for percentage of industrial engineering degrees awarded in 2015, beating out half this list. With the variety of specializations available to the university's industrial engineering students, it's no surprise that such a large percentage of the student body decides to pursue the degree.

Accreditation:

  • Higher Learning Commission

Location:

4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, Michigan 48128-1491
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University of Arizona

Tuition & Fees
$12,467
Distance Education Participation
38%
Location
Tucson, AZ
School Type
4-year

At the University of Arizona, students can pursue a Master of Science in industrial engineering degree online through the school's Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering. The program has a strong focus on technical skills (such as automation and Computer-integrated Manufacturing) and business fundamentals (such as cost estimation and financial modeling), but also provides students with a lot of freedom through its many different choices for electives. Furthermore, students can decide to conclude their program in one of three different ways:

  • Additional coursework
  • A hands-on project
  • Creation of a thesis

This university was an obvious choice to be featured on our list once we saw its high admissions rate. The University of Arizona ranked No.3 for admissions rate of the 10 schools on this list, demonstrating the school's commitment to inclusivity.

Accreditation:

  • Higher Learning Commission

Location:

1401 East University
Tucson, Arizona 85721-0066
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Oregon State University

Tuition & Fees
$11,166
Distance Education Participation
44%
Location
Corvallis, OR
School Type
4-year

Through Oregon State University's e-campus, students can complete a Master of Engineering in industrial engineering degree program. The university's 45-credit program, touted as an "MBA customized for engineers," offers curriculum that can be completed entirely online. The program is comprised of 12 courses, all developed by Oregon State's renowned faculty, and is geared towards helping professionals advance their careers by combining business, financial and management knowledge through a uniquely engineering-based lens.

Of all the online colleges for industrial engineering included on this list, Oregon State University had one of the highest admissions rates for 2015-16 — the second-highest, in fact. Between that and the No.5 graduation rate, it's no surprise that Oregon State was selected to round out our list of featured colleges for industrial engineering.

Accreditation:

  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Location:

1500 SW Jefferson Avenue
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Degree Overview: Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineers are part problem-solver, part fortune teller. Their job involves determining how much manpower and materials will be needed for organizations and manufacturers to run smoothly. But they can't do their job effectively without a solid understanding of math, science, business and even human psychology and behavior. That's where colleges offering online industrial engineering degree programs come in; the courses they offer and the skills they teach can be essential for success in this field. Here is a brief glimpse at what to expect from both.

Online Industrial Engineering Courses

Industrial engineering may be offered at the associate, bachelor's and master's degree levels. To work as an industrial engineer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a person must earn at least a bachelor's degree.

However, there are still reasons to consider an associate degree program in this major. Such programs tend to be very hands-on — even online programs often have at least some on-campus requirement. Coursework emphasizes equipment and technology used on the job, such as computer-aided design and drafting, microprocessors and robotics or materials properties. Students may opt for an associate degree program in order to help them earn a position as a technician or a material handler rather than as an engineer, or they may use their associate degree to help them prepare for a bachelor's degree completion program.

Online bachelor's degree programs in industrial engineering also include technical training, but they expand on that to include such courses as:

  • Engineering economics
  • Inventory management
  • Facilities planning and design
  • Human factors and ergonomics
  • Production planning and control

Students also should expect to work in teams on case studies, examining problems, proposing solutions and researching implementation. Increased methods of distance communication, such as forums, instant messengers and webcams, make this kind of teamwork easier than ever before, allowing students on opposite sides of the country to learn from these group-based assignments together.

Online master's degree programs generally increase focus on career specialization — for instance, energy, facilities or supply chain. Students who have a clear idea of what kind of industrial engineering career they are looking for, or what aspects of the field interest them the most, can benefit greatly from the specialization options of this higher-level degree program. Coursework can be expected to spend more time on human factors, manufacturing processes and optimizing production.

Career-Related Skills to Develop

Industrial engineers should have certain qualities in order to be successful — qualities that an online education in industrial engineering can help students develop.

  • Creativity: Industrial engineering is all about coming up with new ideas to solve problems, whether it's using a new material or approaching production processes in all-new ways. Industrial engineering students should continually work to develop their creative skills, using information from their degree programs to apply old solutions to new problems and create new solutions out of old failures.
  • Critical thinking: Industrial engineers need to use logic and reasoning skills to understand problems and how to solve them. They will often be presented with various proposals or alternatives, and they must be able to make reasoned decisions after careful consideration.
  • Communication skills: Industrial engineers don't just sit in front of computers working with facts and figures. A big part of their job is speaking with teams to discuss possible solutions to problem, listening carefully to what colleagues say, conveying new methods and writing up reports about problems or new procedures. Being a clear, effective communicator is important in this work.
  • Math and statistics skills: Developing new, efficient processes often will involve calculus, trigonometry or statistics. Industrial engineers collect data in the form of mathematical figures and analyze it, then use it to come up with improvements.

Industrial Engineering Career Outlook

As long as industrial business exists, professionals dedicated to improving industrial facilities, management and processes will be needed. If industrial engineering is something that interests you, you may want to consider one of the following careers in order to make your mark on this modern field.

Architectural and Engineering Managers
Average Salary
$152,930
Projected Job Openings
14,600
Projected Job Growth
2.8
Entry-level Education
Bachelor's degree

Students who love dreaming up building ideas for industrial settings should consider architectural and engineering manager careers. In this unique position, college graduates plan, coordinate and direct architectural activities for their companies. They also determine staffing and equipment needs and lead teams of architects, bringing their dream buildings into reality through research and ingenuity.

Architectural and engineering managers typically require a bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering, along with related work experience. Experience in management may also be helpful.

Industrial Production Managers
Average Salary
$115,110
Projected Job Openings
13,800
Projected Job Growth
0.7
Entry-level Education
Bachelor's degree

Individuals who want to watch their ideas come to life may find great satisfaction in industrial production manager careers. These workers oversee the manufacturing of cars, computer equipment, paper products and an array of retail goods. They also help maintain equipment, decide when equipment needs to be replaced and ensure production stays on course and on budget. Basically, industrial production managers are in charge of every aspect of production across a wide range of manufacturing environments.

Most industrial production manager careers start with a bachelor's degree, although more advanced degrees are common and may increase your chances of earning the career you desire. Workers may also need related work experience and management experience to get started in this career.

Industrial Engineers
Average Salary
$92,660
Projected Job Openings
22,600
Projected Job Growth
8.3
Entry-level Education
Bachelor's degree

Industrial engineers use their observational and critical thinking skills to reduce waste and make production processes more simple and efficient. They review processes and production schedules to look for poor planning, then figure out new processes or machinery that can make production faster and better. They also speak with clients about manufacturing specifications; negotiate with vendors; and oversee staff to ensure all systems are running smoothly.

In almost all cases, industrial engineering careers start with a bachelor's degree or higher. However, employers also value experience and hands-on skill, which is why workers with job experience may be given preference.

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