Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineers solve problems through the integration of engineering and business principles. As an industrial systems engineers you work to improve performance and productivity using problem solving. This major creates leaders who often serve as a link between engineering and management. Upon graduation, you will know how to manage budgets and projects. This major may be for you if you are interested in streamlining processes, evaluating and reducing strain on workers and the environment, saving companies money, and eliminating waste of time, money, materials, energy, and other commodities.

Career options include automotive, control systems and manufacturing, business systems integration and consulting, communication and computer systems, construction, engineering administration, marketing and product testing, operations and quality control, and robotics.

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Highlights

  • Our industrial engineering program is ranked #10 by U.S. News & World Report.
  • 91% of students reported having an internship or co-op during their degree program.
  • 98% of students reported securing their first choice destination upon graduation.
  • The average starting salary for an industrial engineering graduate is $81,275 with an average signing bonus of $5,647.

Discover your power. Become a Grainger Engineer.

Your path to Grainger Engineering starts with connecting your passion and interests with the opportunities available in one of our 15 top-ranked major programs. Explore your options and gather the information you need to take the next step and apply.

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What You'll Study

The industrial engineering major fuses engineering, business, and communications and draws upon computer science, math, production management, process control, and psychology. You will be prepared to work in a limitless variety of industries, including technology, health care, communications, manufacturing, and government. The technical portion of the major’s curriculum is designed as a sequence of increasingly specialized coursework; engineering design, communication, teamwork, and laboratory experiences are integrated throughout all four years of the curriculum.

In your final undergraduate year you'll broaden your knowledge with additional technical elective courses, and students participate in the capstone Senior Engineering Program. As an industrial engineer, you will be equipped to make an impact in the career path of your choice.

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Minor in Computer Science

The CS Minor is offered for students seeking significant knowledge of digital computing without the more complete treatment of a major in computer science. This minor may be taken by any student except majors in the Computer Science degree programs and in Computer Engineering.

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Post-Graduation Success

As an industrial engineering graduate you are well-positioned to find or create jobs in a variety of fields.  About nineteen percent of our industrial engineering graduates continue their education in graduate school, and about seventy-eight percent take positions in industry. Common career options for industrial engineering graduates include automotive engineering, control systems and manufacturing, business systems integration and consulting, communication and computer systems, construction, engineering administration, marketing and product testing, operations and quality control, and robotics. Also, businesses have been hiring industrial engineers in areas like sales and marketing, finance, information systems, and personnel.

Other industries employing industrial engineers are hospitals, airlines, banks, railroads, and social services. The average salary for Industrial Engineering grads in 2021-2022 was reported as $81,275 with an average signing bonus of $5,647.

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98%
employed or continuing education*

79%
employed after graduation

19%
attending graduate school

$81,275
average starting annual income*

Sample employer destinations: Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), AIG View All

Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, London Business School, Northwestern University View All

*Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics reported are from 2021-2022. Please note that total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation (e.g., signing bonus, commission, benefits) are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website.

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Your future starts here.

Applying to The Grainger College of Engineering opens the door to your future as a successful engineer. Get started by scheduling a visit, requesting information, or submitting your application.