Best Doctorate in Industrial Engineering Programs
A doctorate in industrial engineering prepares students to make a lasting impact in their field. Graduates can use their online degrees to perform academic research or lead private organizations. A typical online or on-campus program takes 3-5 years.
Some top public schools charge less than $5,000 per year in tuition, while private schools may cost more than $45,000. Prospective degree-seekers can calculate an online program’s true cost by considering location, textbooks, and other school fees.
Students can decide whether to take on debt for a graduate degree by studying the job market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an 8% growth in jobs for top executives and a 12% growth in jobs for postsecondary teachers from 2020 to 2030. This is as fast as or faster than the average growth rate of 8% for all occupations during that time. Steady growth makes earning an online doctorate in industrial engineering a good investment for some learners.
Professionals with a doctorate can explore well-paying positions. Payscale reports that the average salary for graduates with a doctorate in industrial engineering was $116,000 as of June 2022.
Best Accredited Doctorate in Industrial Engineering Programs
Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team
| Accredited University | Grad Tuition | Program Information |
|---|---|---|
Phoenix, Arizona | In-State | $11,720 Out-of-State |$26,160 | Admission Rate | 86% |
Auburn, Alabama | In-State | $9,828 Out-of-State |$29,484 | Admission Rate | 81% |
Vestal, New York | In-State | $11,310 Out-of-State |$23,100 | Admission Rate | 41% |
Clemson, South Carolina | In-State | $10,600 Out-of-State |$22,050 | Admission Rate | 51% |
Columbia University in the City of New York New York City, New York | In-State | $47,600 Out-of-State |$47,600 | Admission Rate | 5% |
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, Florida | In-State | $8,019 Out-of-State |$22,108 | Admission Rate | 36% |
Tallahassee, Floria, | In-State | $9,684 Out-of-State |$24,116 | Admission Rate | 36% |
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia | In-State | $14,064 Out-of-State |$29,140 | Admission Rate | 21% |
Ames, Iowa | In-State | $9,758 Out-of-State |$24,720 | Admission Rate | 92% |
Manhattan, Kansas | In-State | $10,212 Out-of-State |$23,050 | Admission Rate | 95% |
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | In-State | $27,000 Out-of-State |$27,000 | Admission Rate | 32% |
Mississippi State, Mississippi | In-State | $8,800 Out-of-State |$23,800 | Admission Rate | 54% |
New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey | In-State | $20,624 Out-of-State |$30,540 | Admission Rate | 73% |
North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, North Carolina | In-State | $4,745 Out-of-State |$17,545 | Admission Rate | 58% |
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina | In-State | $9,095 Out-of-State |$26,421 | Admission Rate | 45% |
Fargo, North Dakota | In-State | $6,743 Out-of-State |$10,115 | Admission Rate | 94% |
Boston, Massasschusetts | In-State | $24,793 Out-of-State |$24,793 | Admission Rate | 18% |
Evanston, Illinois | In-State | $56,067 Out-of-State |$56,067 | Admission Rate | 9% |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio | In-State | $11,560 Out-of-State |$35,114 | Admission Rate | 54% |
Stillwater, Oklahoma | In-State | $5,531 Out-of-State |$21,034 | Admission Rate | 70% |
Corvallis, Oregon | In-State | $12,933 Out-of-State |$24,975 | Admission Rate | 82% |
University Park, Pennsylvania | In-State | $21,960 Out-of-State |$37,694 | Admission Rate | 76% |
West Lafayette, Indiana | In-State | $9,208 Out-of-State |$28,010 | Admission Rate | 60% |
Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey New Brunswick, New Jersey | In-State | $17,736 Out-of-State |$30,144 | Admission Rate | 61% |
College Station, Texas | In-State | $6,677 Out-of-State |$18,700 | Admission Rate | 58% |
Lubbock, Texas | In-State | $5,958 Out-of-State |$13,428 | Admission Rate | 69% |
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee | In-State | $11,468 Out-of-State |$29,656 | Admission Rate | 79% |
The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas | In-State | $8,474 Out-of-State |$21,206 | Admission Rate | 83% |
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas | In-State | $11,998 Out-of-State |$22,996 | Admission Rate | 32% |
Buffalo, New York | In-State | $11,310 Out-of-State |$23,100 | Admission Rate | 61% |
University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, Alabama | In-State | $10,632 Out-of-State |$24,430 | Admission Rate | 83% |
Orlanda, Florida | In-State | $6,916 Out-of-State |$25,759 | Admission Rate | 44% |
Houston, Texas | In-State | $8,370 Out-of-State |$17,746 | Admission Rate | 65% |
University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Illinois | In-State | $13,276 Out-of-State |$23,850 | Admission Rate | 73% |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois | In-State | $14,997 Out-of-State $28,404 | Admission Rate | 59% |
Iowa City, Iowa | In-State | $10,079 Out-of-State |$29,026 | Admission Rate | 83% |
Louisville, Kentucky | In-State | $13,000 Out-of-State |$27,114 | Admission Rate | 69% |
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts | In-State | $14,014 Out-of-State |$29,529 | Admission Rate | 64% |
Coral Gables, Florida | In-State | $37,800 Out-of-State |$37,800 | Admission Rate | 27% |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | In-State | $23,890 Out-of-State |$48,204 | Admission Rate | 23% |
University of Minnesota Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota | In-State | $17,500 Out-of-State |$27,204 | Admission Rate | 57% |
Columbia, Missouri | In-State | $9,264 Out-of-State |$25,363 | Admission Rate | 81% |
Norman, Oklahoma | In-State | $6,583 Out-of-State |$21,242 | Admission Rate | 80% |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | In-State | $23,530 Out-of-State |$39,898 | Admission Rate | 57% |
Kingston, Rhode Island | In-State | $13,734 Out-of-State |$26,512 | Admission Rate | 75% |
Tampa, Florida | In-State | $8,350 Out-of-State |$19,048 | Admission Rate | 48% |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, California | In-State | $46,272 Out-of-State |$46,272 | Admission Rate | 11% |
Seattle, Washington | In-State | $18,198 Out-of-State |$32,439 | Admission Rate | 52% |
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin | In-State | $10,728 Out-of-State |$24,054 | Admission Rate | 54% |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia | In-State | $13,701 Out-of-State |$27,614 | Admission Rate | 70% |
Detroit, Michigan | In-State | $16,285 Out-of-State |$35,274 | Admission Rate | 72% |
Kalamazoo, Michigan | In-State | $16,360 Out-of-State |$30,432 | Admission Rate | 80% |
Wichita, Kansas | In-State | $5,435 Out-of-State |$13,348 | Admission Rate | 92% |
Featured Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
How We Rank Schools
Each year, the BestColleges Ranking Team evaluates hundreds of programs to produce our annual Best Doctorate in Industrial Engineering ranking. In 2022, the team sourced the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics. We identified 53 schools that qualify for our ranking, listed in alphabetical order. The programs in our list are based on the following criteria.
- Each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution.
- Must offer a doctorate degree program in the given subject.
- Must submit an annual report to the National Center for Education Statistics.
The BestColleges Ranking Team is made up of contributors from our data science and product management teams. These contributors operate independently from the editorial team. All BestColleges school rankings are produced by the ranking team and are free of editorial influence. Read our Editorial Policy and Standards to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Engineering Programs
Is a doctorate in industrial engineering worth it?
The answer depends on prospective students’ career aspirations. Many graduates with a Ph.D. enter academia. Postsecondary teachers instruct the next generation of industrial engineers and perform original research.
Some professionals pursue a Ph.D. to fulfill a personal goal. Other reasons to enroll in a program include job security. The BLS reports that workers with a doctoral degree in 2021 experienced the lowest unemployment rate of all U.S. adults, only 1.5%.
An online doctorate in industrial engineering from an accredited university features the same advantages as in-person education. Other benefits may include an asynchronous curriculum. This learning style lets degree-seekers complete many educational requirements at a convenient time.
What can I do with a doctorate in industrial engineering?
Ph.D. graduates need not limit their job search to postsecondary teaching positions. Some professionals lead a private or public research firm. Major employers include manufacturing companies, wholesale traders, construction firms, and healthcare providers.
Students earning an online doctorate in industrial engineering may qualify for a leadership position after graduation. Degree-seekers should speak with a manager about how a degree may benefit them.
Students without a job turn to their university’s career services department to learn how a doctorate in industrial engineering may launch their career. Counselors may recommend career and interest inventories. Other opportunities include networking with alumni.
How long does it take to get a doctorate in industrial engineering?
Degree-seekers with a master’s in industrial engineering typically need four years to graduate. Students with only a bachelor’s in industrial engineering or another subject may need longer to earn a Ph.D.
Students complete coursework in engineering and academic research. They must pass a qualifying examination before moving on to the dissertation. This examination assesses learners’ proficiency with advanced topics.
Students who fail one or more parts of the qualifying examination may need to retake classes before starting the dissertation. Learners spend one or more years researching and writing. A program ends with the dissertation defense.
How much money can I make with a doctorate in industrial engineering?
The BLS reports that postsecondary teachers earned a median $79,640 salary in May 2021. This salary exceeds what the typical American worker made by approximately $24,000. States with the best-paying engineering teacher jobs included California, Illinois, Rhode Island, Washington, and Alabama.
Top executives with an online doctorate in industrial engineering earned a median $98,980 salary in May 2021. The BLS reports that executives working in technical services, manufacturing, and other engineering subfields made considerably more than their peers specializing in another field. Top executives earning the most in May 2021 lived in the District of Columbia or Hawaii.
What are the highest-paying jobs with a doctorate in industrial engineering?
Payscale reports that the highest-paying jobs for workers with a doctorate in industrial engineering include vice president of analytics, senior data scientist, and senior process engineer. These professionals earned an average salary of $131,380-$169,200 as of June 2022. Principal scientists and industrial engineers also made much more than the average U.S. salary of $58,260.
Students and recent graduates should note that state of residence, years of experience, and employer may affect salary as much as education. Research salary ranges for industrial engineering professionals to determine what you can expect to earn if you relocate or change jobs.
Feature Image: PixeloneStocker / Moment / Getty Images
Explore More College Resources
What Are the Different Types of Engineering?
Engineering is one of the broadest STEM fields. Discover the five main types of engineering and get tips on whether you should pursue an engineering degree.
by Meg Embry
Updated August 13, 2024
How to Become a Chemical Engineer
Find out how to become a chemical engineer. Learn more about salaries, education requirements, and what chemical engineers do.
Updated July 6, 2022
How to Become a Nuclear Engineer
Want to be part of a new age of nuclear energy and technology? Earn a degree in nuclear engineering and explore the possibilities.
Updated August 19, 2024