20 Best Online Master’s Programs in Industrial Engineering

There are a few options for earning a Master of Science in industrial engineering at Purdue University, but we’re going to highlight the online option. This is a uniquely flexible program that doesn’t require consistent studies to remain on track. However, a thesis track is not available to online students. 

If a non-thesis track sounds like the right move for you, then Purdue might be the right program. Admissions committees look at letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, resumes, and transcripts. It takes 30 credit hours to complete the program, even at your own pace and always in your own space.

Adding to the element of flexibility, this program has three available start dates: spring, fall, and summer. Non-engineering bachelor’s degrees should ensure they have the proper calculus and linear algebra courses completed before applying. The US News and World Report ranks Purdue University as a top engineering school, listing Industrial Engineering in the top 10 programs. 

You may be thinking, “How could Texas A&M appear on this list twice?” Keep in mind, this ranks programs, not just schools, and the program at College Station is a standout in the scope of Industrial Engineering programs nationwide. It’s delivered online but follows the exact same, top-tier program students get on the College Station Campus. 

10 courses of practice-oriented education give students the edge to become effective leaders within industrial engineering. The program is structured to hit the most important elements of the field. These are considered to be logistics and inventory control, quality engineering, human factors, and engineering economy. 

Students also get the chance to learn essential modeling techniques, and round out their degree with personally-selected electives. The entirety of the program runs in a do-it-yourself structure. Pre-recorded lectures and easily accessible online exercises help to keep you on track within your own schedule. All of the same resources are afforded to distance learners. 

This degree has been obtained by engineers in the past who have proven the success it can bring. Arthur McFerrin was an A&M Aggie, chemical engineer, and founded a processing and manufacturing company called KMCO. The school also earned a spot on Best Engineering Schools ranking by the US News and World Report. 

The University of Central Florida takes the more traditional approach to an online industrial engineering MS with the 30-credit hours, semester-based system. It’s rooted in industrial engineering, but lets you choose from one of six areas of focus so you can work towards what matters most to you. 

The areas include human systems engineering/ergonomics, interactive simulation modeling, training systems, operations research, systems engineering, and systems engineering. This is where the program becomes somewhat unique.

Whereas many other programs will focus on the managerial oversights of industrial engineering, this program also offers plenty of technical and mathematical elements through your chosen concentration.

For its efforts, the program has earned a spot on U.S. News and World Report’s Most Innovative Programs for 2020. Though it is presented online, the program is far more accommodating, financially, to Florida-residents. Out-of-state residents will pay 250% more than in-state students per semester credits. 

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers an online master in industrial engineering that’s ideal for working students. This program is solely non-thesis and focuses intently on theories and practice within industrial engineering. In place of a thesis, there is a requirement for independent study. 

The independent study requirement fulfills four of the 36 total credit hours required. What makes it ideal for working students is that workplace projects may be eligible to fulfill the requirement, perfectly blending your education with your day job. 

For those interested in big data analytics and advanced programming, you can choose to obtain an advanced analytics concentration. This fulfillment comes with 12 hours of its own particular coursework that’s built into the existing 36. This qualification will appear on your transcripts. If you don’t want to take this concentration, then you can fill these credit hours with electives.

The timeline is flexible, allowing you to work as much or as little as you can fit into your schedule. However, you cannot take more than five years to complete the program. Ultimately, the program is designed to give you the chance to work toward what matters most to your career and your goals. 

Five areas of specialty help to mold the Master of industrial engineering from Texas Tech University. These areas are in management, ergonomics, quality assurance, operations research, and statistics. Students will touch on all of these core concepts, and more, within the minimum 30 credit hours required for the degree. 

To ensure you’re well-prepared and equipped, the application process asks for several resources. The admissions considers applicants who submit a statement of purpose, transcripts, GRE test scores, and letters of recommendation. All students who wish to apply need to present these materials to be considered for the program.

Once admitted, you have the option of a thesis or non-thesis track. The thesis track allows for 3 electives to be chosen. The non-thesis track gives you flexibility to choose five and culminates with a final exam. Only two of the five electives have to be within industrial engineering. 

This industrial engineering master follows the same schedule as the on-campus program. This commitment to quality has earned them the top spot for online colleges in Texas by bestcolleges.com. It also appears on the US News and World Report list of best engineering schools. 

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is committed to giving you an industrial engineering master’s degree in the way that’s easiest for you to obtain it. The online program offers the option to stick strictly to coursework to complete the degree without the need for a thesis or final project.

Though not necessary, it’s still an option to complete relevant projects and earn credits. Industrial engineering projects can earn you up to 6 hours of credit toward the total 33 required. Twenty-one of the total hours need to be in industrial engineering, while the rest are in the “core concepts” of industrial engineering. 

The concepts here are known as the five “breadths” which they consider to be integral to the overall field. These breadths are in economic analysis and decision making, human factors and ergonomics, manufacturing systems, production systems, and systems analysis and optimization.

Students can choose four of the five total breadths and are expected to take one class in each. They’ll also need to take one course satisfying the “Group F” requirement for computer science, mathematics, or statistics.

There is no minor requirement, but it is an option. A minor can be chosen from an external department.

Getting a master’s degree is always an indicator that you’re looking to advance. With this next level of education, you can bring yourself to the next stage in your career, and that’s exactly what the Master of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Arizona aims to do. 

Through this completely online program, you’ll build a business acumen rooted in technical skills. In a field as varied as industrial engineering, there is no set way of achieving this. This program, in particular, allows you to choose the path you intend to go down and optimizes the education to meet those needs. 

The program also gives you the option of whether or not you want to complete a thesis. There are two alternative pathways if that’s not the route you want to take. You can complete a project or work through additional coursework. All roads lead to a master’s degree, but your academic plan will depend on your end goal. 

The standard here is in line with 30 credits that it typically takes to reach a master’s. The coursework only option requires an additional three credit hours in lieu of a research project or thesis. This program also ranks among the top 100 graduate programs in industrial engineering by the US News and World Report.

Arizona is a state known for pioneering online programs. Through Arizona State University’s industrial engineering program at Tempe, you’ll take nine classes, each being 15 weeks in length, in your chosen area of study–from wherever you are.

The concentrations available are in information systems engineering and management systems engineering, operations research and production systems, quality and reliability engineering, and a specialty program in international logistics. Each program requires the completion of 30 credit hours to reach your master’s level. 

Required courses, while firmly set for each concentration, still offer a bit of flexibility. Choose from Simulating Stochastic Systems or Production Systems, Design Engineering Experiments or Regression Analysis, Applied Deterministic Operations Research, or Applied Stochastic Operations Research Models.

The electives give you a chance to really hone your personal interests while staying within your concentration. You can choose up to 12 of them, with a minimum of nine. Once all of these are finished, your final project (worth six credits) is the last step to completing the 30 credit hours you need.

Iowa State University has one of the loudest and proudest industrial engineering programs in the nation. The passion of the staff and the efforts of the students combine to produce large-scale results before they even receive their diplomas.

Before the end of the decade, Iowa State released news of its efforts to “improve food systems.” Other students have demonstrated the different avenues that industrial engineering can take; one engineering student opted to give back to his community with a philanthropic project within the local hospital, pulling an “all-nighter” in solidarity with parents.

He noted industrial engineering courses, IE 222 specifically, at ISU as inspiration for showing how improving processes can also help people in the community. 

Online students get the same quality of education as those on campus. The master’s in industrial engineering is strongly linked with improving the livelihood of people. Production Planning, Wind Energy Manufacturing, and Human Factors in Product Design are all classes you’ll take during your course of study that help to humanize the mechanical industry. 

Math and logistics still play an important role in this field. Courses in network analysis, linear programming, and geometric variability are also built into the curriculum. To round out the student experience, the curriculum also calls for four related elective courses as well as some outside of industrial engineering.

Georgia Institute of Technology knows that the world of industrial engineering is wide. That’s why they try to bring as much as they can to the online Master of Science in Industrial Engineering. The program prepares its students to work in manufacturing and warehousing by teaching supply chain systems, modeling, analysis, and solution-based thinking.

Georgia Institute of Technology gives its online students the same access to resources that on-campus students have. The Georgia Tech Library, BuzzPort student portal, OSCAR scheduling, and several other resources help to keep you engaged with your peers and professors as well as on track with your degree. 

The faculty itself is active in the field, giving them professional insights they can take right through the doors of their own jobs. The 30-credit hour set-up leaves room for two courses in technical electives and two in free electives that help shape an individualized degree. There is no final thesis or independent research, but there is a capstone project.

This capstone serves to prove students can take their knowledge and use it to solve industry problems. Full-time students can complete the entire program in 12 months’ time. 

Georgia Institute of Technology earned the top spot on US News and World Report’s list of Best Graduate Schools in Industrial Engineering. 

Industrial engineers can enroll in Louisiana Tech University’s Master of Science in engineering. By choosing an industrial engineering concentration, you’ll get the education needed to propel you forward in your career.

This online program differs from most in that it follows a quarterly schedule. Instead of taking several courses throughout a semester, a full-time student only needs to enroll in 6 course credit hours per quarter. Quarters span the entire year, broken into fall, winter, spring, and summer sessions. 

The curriculum includes just six credits of core engineering courses covering research and computational methods and a 1-credit professional development seminar. After that, you’ll move into concentration courses and electives. This is the bulk of the program, accounting for 30 of the required credit hours.

Concentration courses focus intently on industrial engineering from a managerial standpoint. You’ll have lessons in quality control alongside operational management. Electives allow you to follow the path to your own personal goals. You can opt to take project management and engineering administration or lean more on theories in probability and statistics.

Whether you’re interested in organizational leadership, technical management, or project leadership, Oregon State University has a Master of Engineering that will pave the path to career success. 

This program schedule is broken into four quarters instead of two semesters. The 45-credit hours necessary for completion is the equivalent amount of work you’d get from a 30-credit hour, semester-based program. In total, you’ll take 12 classes. It’s presented completely online and will take about two years to complete.

Of the 45 credits needed, 15 credit hours focus on introducing you to the tools you’ll need to manage. You’ll explore project and operations management, as well as learning to analyze economics within advanced engineering. The other aspect of the program is electives, where you can guide the program to fit your personal goals. You can also opt to get a certificate in Engineering Management.

Admission is on a rolling basis, with four start dates throughout the year. To do so, you’ll need to gather letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, transcripts, and GRE scores. You can apply to a program a minimum of eight weeks out.

At Auburn University, there are two options for an advanced degree in industrial engineering: MSE or MISE. The MISE is targeted toward building upon professional experience, while the MS follows a route of research and calls for a thesis. Both of these programs will help to develop the necessary skills to manage or lead a team. 

In order to prepare for either of these courses, some previous coursework should be complete. Admissions looks to ensure you have fulfilled requirements in calculus and linear algebra. They’ll provide a necessary basis for advanced topics. They also recommend that students have some competency of stochastic and deterministic operations research. 

The program itself consists of 31 credit hours and is largely personalized. The additional credit (over the standard 30) is for the graduate seminar. You’ll also be at liberty to choose from about seven elective credits that fit within the industry and your interests. The core stays relatively consistent. Every student should prepare to explore economics, statistics, and linear programming as they relate to industrial engineering.

For students working in the industry or those with particular goals, graduate certificates are available. Options include Automotive Manufacturing Systems, Occupational Safety & Ergonomics, and Modeling and Data Analytics for Operations. If you choose these options, you’ll be responsible for the relevant coursework, and the certification will be noted on your diploma.

The Master of Engineering (MEng Online) from Clemson University is ideal for industrial engineers working full time but looking to optimize their career with continued education. The focus, of course, is on industrial engineering with particular emphasis on supply chain logistics. 

It isn’t limited to this, though. The program also integrates elements of civil engineering and management tied with fundamental engineering concepts. The entirety of the program is available online, with zero campus visits required. It also isn’t held to a strict timeline, allowing you to log in to classes and download lectures when it works best for you. 

Each of the 10 courses is three credit hours, amounting to the master’s level standard of 30 credit hours. You’ll learn descriptive and prescriptive analytics, health, safety, and quality assurance, as well as several units in supply chain. In place of a thesis and final dissertation, there’s a capstone project. This project will demonstrate how to solve problems with the tools taught throughout the curriculum.

Students can also opt to add a certification to their degree. Clemson promotes certificates as a way to be well prepared for your chosen professional field as well as stand out in the application process. These certificates can include production, renewable energy, and health science.

Missouri University of Science and Technology makes a point to stress that their online program stays online. It’s targeted at existing professionals who want to advance their careers into leadership-level roles. You’ll still work through the standard 30 credit hours of most programs, but without the requirement for any campus visits.

To make sure you’re well-equipped for the program, the application process is very involved. They ask for transcripts, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, a resume, and, for students who don’t have a bachelor’s in natural science, computing, engineering or technology, GRE test scores. 

Once admitted, you’ll learn about several related topics, like big data, supply chain, energy efficiency, operations, and manufacturing. These core topics will cover the 12 required units (also known as credit hours), leaving you with the opportunity to explore your own interests through 18 units of electives.

It’s possible to make research courses part of your curriculum, but it isn’t required. There is no thesis within this program. Your application will illustrate your existing knowledge and experience in the field with a resume, statement of purpose, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.

What’s especially unique about this master’s of industrial engineering program is that it has three options for end-goals, and all of them can be reached completely through distance learning. Texas A&M also has options for part-time and full-time (to allow you to maintain your job). 

The coursework-only option requires 12 courses, the most hefty of the three options. From there, the research and thesis opportunities involve 11 and 8 courses, respectively. The research project is similar to the thesis in that you have to conduct research and then orally defend it. The thesis requires the additional step of presenting a proposal.

Certificates in engineering management or manufacturing standards and standardization can be added to the program and, ultimately, your diploma. 

This program offers flexibility to make it your own while still being recognized as one of the best programs in the country. It earned a spot on the US News and World Report’s Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs.

Mississippi University offers industrial engineering programs at every level. The master’s level program, in particular, is designed to pave the way to a doctorate. It’s formatted in a distance-learning style, and gives you an opportunity to customize the coursework through a thesis or non-thesis option of study. 

All incoming students will choose a concentration. The options include industrial systems (SYS), operations research (OPRS), manufacturing systems (MFGS), management systems engineering (MGTS), and human factors and ergonomics (HFE). The requirements for each track, as expected, call for an individual batch of core courses. They all call for 30 total credit hours. Each track comes with both thesis or non-thesis options.

If you decide, throughout the course of the program, that another specialization interests you more, there is the option to switch. However, since they all have different requirements, you may have to start back at square one. There’s also the chance to get ahead with this program. Students can transfer up to nine credits so long as they qualify as an equivalent course within the master’s program.

While the program is designed with flexibility in mind, there’s a strict rule that students must be continuously enrolled to remain active in the program. Skipping a semester means forfeiture of the degree, and you would be required to resubmit an application. 

Online programs mean you can learn from anywhere, although in some cases it gives local students the chance to learn without reporting to campus. The University of Alabama in Huntsville notes a distinct interest in helping their local community but still welcomes students from all areas of the country. 

University of Alabama’s program is a Master of Science in engineering, but you can opt to concentrate your studies in industrial engineering. Whereas the other concentrations focus more on technical and applied science skills, the industrial engineering track is geared toward problem-solving. 

This program looks to ensure you have foundational courses under your belt. These include several credits in calculus, physics, statistics, and chemistry. These should be completed prior to submitting an application. The required credit hours of core coursework within the Master’s program itself include operations research, advanced quality control, and statistical methods. These requirements total to 24 credit hours. 

You can also choose from a minor in either engineering management or systems engineering. These concentrations call for just six credit hours to fulfill. The program concludes with either a thesis project or additional graduate coursework hours. Each of these is worth six credits, bringing the total program to 30 credit hours. 

New York University teaches what they call a “multidimensional view” of virtually any area in the industry through the online M.S. in industrial engineering. It blends business with technical skills so you can maximize productivity while staying in tune with the latest technological developments. The end goal is to create students who are equipped to lead with a mind for innovation.

U.S. News and World Report ranked this program as #13 on the Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs. To enter this competitive program, all full-time students are required to submit GRE scores. It’s also a necessary preparatory measure to have taken courses in probability and statistics. 

This program entails 12 required core credits (4 classes) with nine credits of electives within industrial engineering. The core covers quality control, facility design, factory simulation, and production, while electives allow you to explore other areas. Of the nine required industrial engineering electives, options include supply chain management, electronic systems manufacturing, and human capital analytics. The remaining nine credits are advisor-approved electives that span industries so you can partake in the field you enjoy most. 

What makes NYU stand out is the caliber to which it holds both students and faculty. Professor Jonathan Suffer wrote about million-dollar opportunities for the New York Times.

Students of the program have the same chance to advance in their careers. The NYU Tandon School of Engineering has several resources for its students. NYU CareerNet is a valuable resource for paving your career path. The Technology Management and Innovation Department spotlights some of the biggest thinkers in the field and gives students access to their ideas.

The University of Southern California offers an online Master of Science for industrial engineers who want to take their career to the management level. It isn’t limited to industrial engineering, as the program is called “The Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering” (MSISE).

As somewhat of a combined program, you’ll be able to build on your industrial skills by exploring the technical side of things as well. With a broad education, you can take your education into varied fields, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, telecommunications, manufacturing, information technology, and more. 

The only option here is non-thesis, calling instead for a final cumulative exam. This makes it easy to stay entwined in both work and study without becoming burdened by the lengthy process of a thesis. USC’s accessible program earned a spot on the top 100 Best Graduate Engineering Programs by US News as well as the top 30 on Intelligent.com.