Online Industrial Engineering Master's Degree Programs

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Industrial engineers are central to creating the most effective operations of factories and businesses. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2021) states that these scientific-minded professionals “find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes” by designing “efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.”

They take on varied responsibilities, including optimizing management and financial planning; organizing production schedules, deliveries, and process flows; designing and implementing quality control solutions; and coordinating the actions of clients, vendors, and other staff. Their services can benefit all sectors of the economy from manufacturing to healthcare, and through their meticulous modeling, they irrevocably improve the world’s production and services.

Before seeking work, these invaluable professionals generally need at least a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a related field, although others pursue a master’s degree to enhance their salary prospects and leadership opportunities. For their services, these engineers receive relatively generous wages.

According to the BLS (May 2020), the 290,190 industrial engineers nationwide earned an average annual salary of $93,610—much more than the average wage of all American workers ($65,740)—and enjoyed the following wage percentiles:

United States (290,190 industrial engineers)

10th percentile: $57,950
25th percentile: $71,630
50th percentile (median): $88,950
75th percentile: $111,360
90th percentile: $136,930

Additionally, there’s an abundance of societies and professional associations around the country to assist these workers in their important work. These groups include the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP); INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences); the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS); the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE); the Manufacturing and Service Operations Management Society; and the Production and Operation Management Society, among others.

This guide explores the wealth of online industrial engineering programs in the U.S., including discussions of expected coursework, costs, and some exceptional professors.

Is an Online Industrial Engineering Degree right for me?

Industrial engineers work in every sector, as their work is in-demand in every type of company. Students enrolled in industrial engineering programs learn business management subjects. The curriculum is typically focused on processes to improve production efficiency and reduce costs. Also, industrial engineering programs provide students with the foundations for working with big data.

Students who have not taken an online course before will need to get acquainted with the delivery method and format of distance education. Most online programs offer a combination of web-based videos, assignments, and discussion forums. Some courses may also include synchronous online lectures. Online students generally learn from the same faculty as on-campus students. Students are encouraged to participate in online discussion forums to enhance their understanding and learning.

While an online program offers flexibility to learn at your own pace, students must also maintain some form of accountability to ensure they complete coursework in time and derive maximum benefits from an online program. Those who succeed in this environment are typically self-motivated and self-starting learners.

List of Online Industrial Engineering Degree Programs

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School	City	State	Website	Grads
Clemson University	Clemson	SC	www.clemson.edu	407
Texas A & M University-College Station	College Station	TX	www.tamu.edu	373
Purdue University-Main Campus	West Lafayette	IN	www.purdue.edu	337
The University of Texas at Arlington	Arlington	TX	www.uta.edu	216
Auburn University	Auburn	AL	www.auburn.edu	186
University of Central Florida	Orlando	FL	www.ucf.edu	180
Iowa State University	Ames	IA	www.iastate.edu	161
University at Buffalo	Buffalo	NY	www.buffalo.edu	155
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	Raleigh	NC	www.ncsu.edu	152
Lehigh University	Bethlehem	PA	www.lehigh.edu	133
University of Southern California	Los Angeles	CA	www.usc.edu	122
Columbia University in the City of New York	New York	NY	www.columbia.edu	117
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Champaign	IL	www.illinois.edu	116
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	Stillwater	OK	www.okstate.edu	115
Texas Tech University	Lubbock	TX	www.ttu.edu	103
New Mexico State University-Main Campus	Las Cruces	NM	www.nmsu.edu	95
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Knoxville	TN	www.utk.edu	87
Florida International University	Miami	FL	www.fiu.edu	84
Kansas State University	Manhattan	KS	www.k-state.edu	83
Oregon State University	Corvallis	OR	oregonstate.edu	83
Texas A & M University-Kingsville	Kingsville	TX	www.tamuk.edu	79
University of Michigan-Dearborn	Dearborn	MI	umdearborn.edu	70
New Jersey Institute of Technology	Newark	NJ	www.njit.edu	65
New York University	New York	NY	www.nyu.edu	61
Mississippi State University	Mississippi State	MS	www.msstate.edu	59
Florida State University	Tallahassee	FL	www.fsu.edu	53
University of Central Missouri	Warrensburg	MO	www.ucmo.edu	45
Lawrence Technological University	Southfield	MI	www.ltu.edu	36
Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professions Studies	Fort Wayne	IN	cps.indianatech.edu	31
University of Arizona	Tucson	AZ	www.arizona.edu	30
Lamar University	Beaumont	TX	www.lamar.edu	18
Fort Hays State University	Hays	KS	www.fhsu.edu	9
Arizona State University-Skysong	Scottsdale	AZ	www.asu.edu	8
George Washington University	Washington	DC	www.gwu.edu	1

Admissions Requirements for Online Industrial Engineering Degree Programs

While admissions materials for online programs vary by university, they generally are similar to their on-campus counterparts. Here’s a shortlist of typical admissions requirements for online schools in industrial engineering:

Online application(s) and fee (NOTE: Some master’s programs require separate applications to the graduate school and the engineering department)
Official transcripts from highest degree achieved (e.g., high school diploma, bachelor’s degree)
Proof of prerequisite classes (e.g., calculus, geometry, physics, biology, chemistry)
Competitive GPA (e.g., >2.5 for bachelor’s level, >3.0 for master’s level)
Test scores (SAT/ACT for bachelor’s degree programs; GRE for master’s programs; TOEFL for ESL students)
Personal statement (500-600 words)
Letters of recommendation from teachers, managers, employers, or others
Resume or CV (typically graduate-level programs only)

Some programs have additional requirements including candidate interviews or proof of publication.

Industrial Engineering Program Accreditation

Before applying to an online industrial engineering program, aspiring students are encouraged to verify their school’s or program’s accreditation status. In general, accreditation is a proxy for quality since this voluntary process weighs factors such as student outcomes, facilities, faculty, curricular standards, finance administration, and other relevant variables.

Many organizations offer accreditation, but they aren’t all created equal. For online industrial engineering programs, the predominant approval entities include the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET); notably, the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers assists schools for upcoming ABET evaluations. Other entities of note include organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) such as:

Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC-NCA)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Commission on Colleges for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC)

Industrial Engineering Curriculum & Specialization

In undergraduate programs in industrial engineering, typical courses include calculus, chemistry, linear algebra, materials, engineering economics, and economic analysis, design production, physics, engineering and communication, operations research, quality assurance, engineering statistics, work analysis, and facilities planning. Undergraduate students may be required to take several other, non-engineering-related electives as well to fulfill breadth requirements.

Graduate students, by contrast, take more advanced coursework in areas including systems engineering, project risk management, operations management, product development, the legal aspects of engineering management, strategic planning, lean manufacturing systems engineering, professional responsibility and ethics, simulation modeling & analysis, cost estimation, large-scale optimization, and other topics. They also may be required to write a thesis or dissertation.

Finally, students within graduate-level industrial engineering programs may also have the option to pursue a specialty such as human factors, operations research, manufacturing, financial engineering, healthcare engineering, or other areas.

Featured Online Industrial Engineering Schools

Arizona State University

Purdue University

Oregon State University

The University Of Arizona

North Carolina State University

University of Southern California

Columbia University

New Mexico State University

University of Michigan

Georgia Institute of Technology

1Arizona State University

Arizona State University offers an online master of science (MS) in an industrial engineering program that prepares students to understand, analyze, and then ultimately solve problems within large organizations. The faculty of the program includes renowned professionals who consistently receive awards for research and teaching excellence. The U.S. News & World Report ranks this program among the top 50 programs in the nation.

This 30 credit program includes courses such as web-enabled decision support systems, information systems engineering, simulating stochastic systems, production systems, design engineering experiments, regression analysis, reliability engineering, applied deterministic operations research, and applied stochastic operations research models.

Applicants to the program must have a bachelor's or master's degree in software engineering, computer engineering, or a related field from an accredited institution and a minimum grade point average of 3.0. They must submit a completed graduate admission application, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and proof of English language proficiency (for applicants with English as a second language).

Graduates of the program have career opportunities in areas such as electronic and computer product manufacturing, engineering services, aerospace product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and motor vehicle parts manufacturing.

Location: Tempe, AZ
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Expected Time to Completion: 7.5 to 15 weeks per class (two years total)
Estimated Tuition: $1,022 per credit

2Purdue University

Purdue University offers an online master of industrial engineering (MSIE) program, ranked first by U.S. News & World Report among online industrial engineering master's programs. Students can either earn an MS in industrial engineering or an interdisciplinary MS in engineering (MSE/MS) with a concentration in industrial engineering.

For admission to the program, students must hold an undergraduate degree, and submit a completed online application, a statement of purpose, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, official GRE, a current resume, and TOEFL scores for international students.

Made up of 30 credits, the program involves courses such as an introduction to systems engineering, lean manufacturing, design of experiments, economic decisions in engineering, stochastic models in operations research, systems simulation, linear programming, safety engineering, and advanced facilities design.

Location: West Lafayette, IN
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months
Estimated Tuition: Residents ($1,139 per credit); non-residents ($1,430 per credit)

3Oregon State University

At Oregon State University in Corvallis, professionals who have a background in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics may pursue a distance-based master’s degree (MEng) in industrial engineering with a focus in engineering management. This master's degree program combines financial, management, and business knowledge with engineering-specific skills that are necessary to effectively lead organizations. Offered completely online, this program is taught by renowned faculty members known for their expertise, innovation, and research.

The program includes 45 credits of instruction in areas such as project management in engineering, operations management, advanced engineering economic analysis, systems engineering, the legal aspects of engineering and engineering management, and lean manufacturing systems engineering, among others.

Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree in any of the STEM fields, GRE scores (only required if bachelor's degree is not from an ABET-accredited institution), statement of your professional objectives, letters of reference, and undergraduate transcripts.

Upon graduation, students in this online program receive the same degree as the on-campus students. Graduates of the program can move into management and leadership roles. They develop management skills focused on engineering, soft skills for successfully leading teams, and the credibility for influencing executive decision-makers.

Location: Corvallis, OR
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $619 per credit

4The University Of Arizona

Students can pursue an online master’s of science (MS) degree in industrial engineering at the University of Arizona of Tucson. This program offers an in-depth exploration of areas such as traffic modeling, computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM), and automation. The program helps students in developing the skills they need for optimizing manufacturing operations and supervising high-tech production processes. This industrial engineering master’s degree program offers various study paths to students, so they can choose an option that best supports their professional goals.

This 30- to 33-credit curriculum involves three required courses: engineering statistics, fundamentals of optimization, and survey of optimization. Students can complete the remaining credits through a project, a thesis, or through the coursework option. Classes include quality engineering, reliability engineering, distributed multi-paradigm simulation systems, transportation systems, large-scale optimization, and nonlinear optimization, among other subjects.

The major admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline from an accredited university, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, completed online application, three letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts, a current resume, statement of intent, and English proficiency requirements for international students.

Location: Tucson, AZ
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Expected Time to Completion: 18 to 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $1,149 per credit

5North Carolina State University

At the North Carolina State University in Raleigh, students may pursue an online master’s degree in industrial engineering, which does not require any on-campus residency. This program is ideal for practitioner-oriented professionals seeking graduate-level knowledge in this field. This program also doesn't have any final oral examination or thesis requirements.

To be eligible for the program, students must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline from an accredited university or college, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, GRE, three letters of recommendation, and TOEFL or IELTS scores (for international applicants only).

This 33-credit degree includes instruction in six broad-based areas: economic and decision analysis; human factors and ergonomics; manufacturing; production systems; systems analysis and optimization; and computer science, math, and statistics. Sample some of the courses in the curriculum: applied engineering economy, human factors in systems design, manufacturing process engineering, automated systems engineering, quality engineering, linear programming, and computer networks.

Graduates of the program are prepared for a wide variety of positions such as advanced manufacturing engineer, industrial engineer, industrial quality or plant engineer, manufacturing engineer, manufacturing process engineer, packaging designer, process industrial engineer, and many more.

Location: Raleigh, NC
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months
Estimated Tuition: North Carolina residents ($505.28 per credit); non-residents ($1,504.56 per credit)

6University of Southern California

Through the University of Southern California, students can pursue an online master of science degree in industrial and systems (MSISE) engineering. This program enhances the technical capabilities of industrial engineers. This MS program is ideal for students wanting to become technical leaders in the field of industrial and systems engineering.

Applicants to the program are expected to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in any engineering or engineering-related discipline, electronic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, a current resume, personal statement, three letters of recommendation, TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students whose first language is not English.

Courses in the 30-credit ISE program include advanced production planning and scheduling, engineering project management, inventory systems, enterprise-wide information systems, linear programming and extensions, design of experiments, and performance analysis with simulation.

Graduates of the program have access to a vast array of career opportunities in areas such as aerospace, defense, healthcare, automotive, systems engineering, telecommunications, supply chain, manufacturing, and information technology.

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Accreditation: Senior College and University Commission (WASC Senior or WSCUC) of the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC)
Expected Time to Completion: Full-time enrollment (18 to 24 months); part-time enrollment (30 to 36 months)
Estimated Tuition: $2,199 per credit

7Columbia University

Columbia University allows students to pursue either an online master of science (MS) degree in industrial engineering or a certificate in the same field. This online master's degree focuses on how complex engineering projects should be managed, designed, and operated.

To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field from an accredited academic institution, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, transcripts, a current resume, a personal-professional statement, and TOEFL/ or IELTS scores for students whose native language is not English.

Classes in this 30-credit distance-based M.S. program include applied systems engineering, optimization models and methods, introduction to probability and statistics, systems engineering: tools and methods, stochastic methods, as well as electives in infrastructure and sustainability, mechanical, electrical, and computer systems, biological systems, and management.

Location: New York, NY
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months
Estimated Tuition: $2,272 per credit

8New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University offers a 100 percent online master of science in an industrial engineering program, providing students with the techniques, tools, and skills to work in a wide range of organizational settings. The program is ideal for students with an inclination towards problem-solving, working with multidisciplinary teams, and dealing with the many aspects of industrial engineering.

For admission to the program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited college or university, a statement of intent, and other requirements stated by the graduate school.

Consisting of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as stochastic processes modeling, queuing systems, systems synthesis & design, evaluation of engineering data, facilities planning and design, advanced engineering economy, and large-scale systems engineering.

Students develop a strong foundational understanding of industrial engineering methodologies and tools, as well as the design, installation, and improvement of systems. They will also develop soft skills such as teamwork, writing, and communication, problem-solving, and thinking laterally.

Graduates can take up roles such as quality control systems managers, geothermal production managers, wind energy engineers, nanosystems engineers, and biofuels production managers.

Location: Las Cruces, NM
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $411.50 per credit

9University of Michigan

The University of Michigan offers an online master’s degree (MSE) in industrial and systems engineering designed for engineers and related professionals who design, install, improve, and evaluate complex integrated systems. The program offers concentrations such as human factors and ergonomics, operations research and management science, quality systems and manufacturing, information systems, and program management and product development.

The program comprises 30 credits, out of which nine credit credits are for required courses such as design and analysis of experiments, human factors and ergonomics, and production and operations engineering. Students can then complete 12 credits from their chosen concentration.

Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, computer science, or applied mathematics, a course in probability and statistics, a course in operations research, two official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not required for admission.

Students will develop knowledge and skills to help them design, manage, and install large integrated engineering systems.

Location: Dearborn, MI
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months
Estimated Tuition: Michigan resident ($810 per credit); non resident ($1,437 per credit); Non-resident in online program ($1,012 per credit)

10Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers an online master of science in industrial engineering program providing a graduate-level introduction to the broad field of industrial engineering. Students in this program study under faculty members who are actively engaged in research teaching students about the latest developments in industrial engineering.

The major admission requirements include an undergraduate bachelor of science degree or the equivalent, GRE scores, official transcripts, a document of lawful presence, personal statements, a professional resume, and three references. International applicants are required to take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

The program comprises 30 credits. The coursework explores topics such as manufacturing systems, regression analysis, transportation & supply chain systems, statistical methods, simulation, power system protection, digital control systems, robotics, and computational statistics.

Location: Atlanta, GA
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months
Estimated Tuition: $1,100 per credit

Influential Industrial Engineering Professors

Dr. Daniel Bienstock , PhD - Columbia University

Dr. Daniel Bienstock is a professor within Columbia University’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, where he has been working since 1989. His research focuses on high-performance computing and optimization. He was the recipient of the INFORM Fellows Award, the Presidential Young Investigator Award, and the IBM Faculty Partnership Award.

Dr. Bienstock completed his PhD in operations research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his BA in mathematics at Brandeis University. He has published in respected journals such as Operations Research Letters and the Journal of Computational Finance.

Dr. Javier Calvo-Amodio , PhD - Oregon State University

Dr. Javier Calvo-Amodio serves as an associate professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering at Oregon State University, where he has worked since 2012. Previously a graduate instructor at Texas Tech University, he also served at the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Morelia, Mexico as an institutional effectiveness director. His research interests are focused on developing a fundamental understanding of how to integrate systems science into industrial and systems engineering research.

Dr. Calvo-Amodio has published in prominent journals such as the Journal of Cleaner Production, and the International Journal of Engineering Education. He completed his PhD at Texas Tech University, his MSc at the University of Hull, and his BS at Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Dr. Abhijit Deshmukh , PhD - Purdue University

Dr. Abhijit Deshmukh is the James J. Solberg department head and a professor of industrial engineering at Purdue University. His areas of interest include manufacturing and operations research, mechanism design, cyberinfrastructure for engineering applications, system complexity, and healthcare policy.

Dr. Deshmukh’s work has been published in influential journals such as the Journal of infrastructure systems and the International Journal of Urban Sciences. He earned his PhD from Purdue University, his MS from the State University of New York, and his BTech from the University of Bombay.

Maged M. Dessouky , PhD - University of Southern California

Dr. Maged Dessouky is the dean's professor of industrial and systems engineering within USC’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. His research has won funding from the National Science Foundation, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Caltrans, FTA, and the Department of Defense. He’s the recipient of several honors and awards, including the 2007 Transportation Science & Logistics Best Paper Prize, the IIE Operations Research Division Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Alpha Pi Mu/Omega Rho Outstanding Teacher of the Year in Industrial Systems Engineering, among others.

Dr. Dessouky’s research interests include supply chain and logistics, transportation systems, simulation, and operations research applications to large complex systems. He teaches courses such as operations research, production, inventory systems, and industrial scheduling. He holds his PhD from the University of California, as well as his MS and BS from Purdue University.

Dr. Young Jun Son , PhD - University of Arizona

Dr. Young Jun Son teaches systems and industrial engineering at the University of Arizona, where he also serves as the department head. He has taught numerous courses, including simulation modeling and analysis, computer-integrated manufacturing systems, and distributed multi-paradigm simulation systems.

Dr. Son is the author and co-author of over 97 journal papers and 100 conference papers. A fellow of IISE, he has numerous laurels to his name, including the SME 2004 Outstanding Young ME Award, the IIE 2005 Outstanding Young IE Award, and several IISE Annual Meeting Best Paper Awards (2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018, and 2019). Additionally, he serves as a department editor for IISE Transactions. He completed his PhD and MS at the Pennsylvania State University and a BS at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH).

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