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.
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.
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.
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955 University BoulevardThe 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.
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2850 Weddell StreetA 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.
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107 WhitehurstAt 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:
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.
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4000 Central Florida BoulevardNorth 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.
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2101 Hillsborough StreetAdult 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.
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201 Sikes HallAmong 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.
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527 Andy Holt TowerThe 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:
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.
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4901 Evergreen RoadAt 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:
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.
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1401 East UniversityThrough 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.
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1500 SW Jefferson AvenueIndustrial 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.
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:
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.
Industrial engineers should have certain qualities in order to be successful — qualities that an online education in industrial engineering can help students develop.
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.
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.
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 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.