by our College Data Analytics TeamIndustrial & Management Engineering was the 133rd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 6,063 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 7.1% increase in industrial management degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 5,633.
Our 2023 Best Industrial & Management Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 79 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for industrial and management engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of industrial management programs later in this article.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to industrial management. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional industrial management certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of industrial management degrees. You can get anything from a in industrial and management engineering to the highest industrial management degree, a . Depending on the industrial and management engineering degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to industrial management, with approximately 40.8% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for industrial management workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 42.9% |
| Some College Courses | 17.0% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 14.1% |
| High School Diploma | 8.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 6.6% |
50.5% of industrial management workers have at least a bachelor's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in industrial and management engineering careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the industrial management career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your industrial management degree? Industrial & Management Engineering careers are expected to grow 2.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to industrial and management engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 169,700 | -0.5% |
| Industrial Engineering Technicians | 64,300 | 0.6% |
As you might expect, salaries for industrial management graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for industrial and management engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers industrial management grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $113,370 |
| Industrial Engineering Technicians | $58,860 |
With over 293 different industrial management degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased industrial management school rankings to help you with this.
Industrial & Management Engineering is one of 3 different types of Engineering-Related Fields programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Packaging Science | 420 |
| Other Engineering-Related Fields | 138 |
| Engineering Design | 115 |
