Best Industrial Engineering colleges in the U.S. 2025

Northwestern University’s industrial engineering program prepares students that plan on pursuing a career as an industrial electriciandesigneror even a permit specialist. This program includes courses in physicsbuilding materialsand architectural designalong with general education requirements at the undergraduate level. Classes are available both in-person and remotethough some labs may include hands-on work with programs like Autocad and professional internships at an engineering firm in the Chicago metro. Students at Northwestern typically develop a portfolio of their work to be used when applying for professional roles post-graduation.

For students interested in pursuing an industrial engineering degree in New York CityColumbia University offers a competitive industrial engineering track with professional observation opportunities at engineering firms in the New York metro area. Undergraduates are advised to apply to internships during their degree program and in summer breaks to gain hands-on experience that will be invaluable when they apply for professional roles post-graduation.

The University of Southern California (USC) has an industrial engineering degree program that emphasizes courses in physics and design and is organized to prepare students for professional roles immediately upon completion of their bachelor’s degree. This program is structured to be completed in four years and provides students a range of local internship opportunities and seminars to further their understanding of industrial design and ability to develop their designs in industry-specific computer programs like Autocad and REVIT.

Georgia Tech’s industrial engineering program is structured to prepare students interested in pursuing a career designing and engineering anything from buildings to carsand even airplanes. Applicants should note that lab instruction and professional internship experience are critical to this major and that graduates typically enter the workforce immediately after graduation if they don’t plan on pursuing a master’s program. Students in this program can expect ample job opportunities in metro Atlantaand access to a large alumni network that will help when pursuing full-time employment.

UT Austin offers a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering for students in Texas that have an interest in industrial design. The program’s curriculum includes a combination of physics and architectural designand students are recommended to declare before the end of their freshman year to complete the program in four years. Graduates should be aware UT Austin has a large network locally to assist recent graduates in post-graduation job placement.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s industrial engineering program is a top school in the midwest for students interested in pursuing professional opportunities in the field of engineering. Their program fosters professional growth for those interested in designing bridgesroadwaysand skyscrapers. Students should expect a rigorous workloadextensive lab-timeand professional internships to further their experience and understanding of the design process from schematic design to construction.

For Texas residents with aspirations of pursuing a degree in Industrial DesignTexas A&M offers a four-year program designed to prepare students for jobs in the field of industrial design after graduation. Students are advised to take classes in physics and building scienceas well as in-person labs to gain experience using design programs like BlueBeam and AutoCad that are critical to the overall design process.