Easiest Industrial Engineering Degrees (2025)

Industrial engineering is a field of engineering focused on optimizing various aspects of industry, including:

• People
• Procedures
• Equipment

It's especially important in manufacturing. Degree programs in industrial engineering can be difficult, but not all degrees are the same. Associate degrees in industrial engineering are the easiest to obtain. Keep reading to learn more about the easiest industrial engineering degrees.

What Are the Easiest Industrial Engineering Degrees?

Industrial engineering degrees are available at these levels:

• Associate
• Bachelor's
• Master's
• Doctoral

Of those, the easiest type of degree to earn is an associate degree.

Associate degrees are undergraduate degrees. They usually require around 60 semester credit hours and take two years of full-time study to complete.

There are a few reasons these are the easiest degrees to earn:

• They take only two years as opposed to the minimum of four years required by the other degree types
• They cover introductory and essential topics and don't include incredibly advanced coursework
• They're offered by community and technical colleges, which usually have lower tuition costs and higher acceptance rates.

At the associate's level, students can earn a degree in industrial engineering or industrial engineering technology.

Industrial engineering degrees are usually designed to be transferred into a bachelor's program. As a result, they're usually made up of general education courses and foundational engineering courses.

The course load may be easier for some, but students generally cannot enter the workforce with this degree and must complete the final two years of their bachelor's degree first.

Industrial engineering technology degrees can also be transferred, but are designed to allow students to enter the workforce after graduation. These programs cover topics like:

• Electrical skills
• HVAC systems
• Mechanics
• Mechatronics
• Pneumatics and hydraulics
• Programming
• Welding

Industrial engineering technology associate degrees are not necessarily easy, but they are easier than other types of degrees as they require the least amount of schooling.

What Schools Offer Associate Degrees in Industrial Engineering Technology?

Industrial engineering programs are most commonly offered at the bachelor's level, but a few schools across the country offer associate degrees in industrial engineering technology, including:

• Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio: Associate of Applied Science in manufacturing/industrial engineering technology
• Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minnesota: Associate of Applied Science in industrial engineering technology
• Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin: Associate of Applied Science in industrial engineering technology
• Purdue Global in Fort Wayne, Indiana: Associate of Science in industrial engineering technology
• Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury, North Carolina: Associate of Applied Science in industrial engineering technology

Due to the often hands-on nature of these programs, associate degrees in industrial engineering technology are primarily offered on campus.

What Can You Do With An Associate Degree in Industrial Engineering Technology?

The most common role for those with associate degrees in industrial engineering technology is as industrial engineering technicians, who work under the direction of engineers.

Other career opportunities may include:

• Industrial engineer
• Instrumentation technician
• Manufacturing engineer
• Process improvement specialist
• Quality process engineer
• Test technician

Some employers or career paths may require additional education or training beyond an associate degree in industrial engineering technology.

Other Industrial Engineering Degrees

In addition to associate degrees, industrial engineering degrees are offered at the bachelor's, master's, and doctorate levels. These programs get more difficult as you progress.

Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering

Bachelor's degrees are another type of undergraduate degree. They require around 120 semester credit hours and take about four years of full-time study to complete.

These degrees usually cover the foundations of engineering with courses in work design, human-machine systems, probability, statistics, and engineering economy. They also expand on those foundations with courses in areas like:

• Engineering database systems
• Facilities planning
• Logistics and supply chain management
• Operations research
• Quality assurance
• Simulation modeling

Bachelor's degrees in industrial engineering often include hands-on components like:

• Labs
• Fieldwork
• Internships

They may also conclude with a capstone course or project. These degrees are more intensive and require more study than associate degrees, but they can also open the door to a greater range of career options.

Master's in Industrial Engineering

Master's degrees are a type of graduate degree. They usually require around 30 credits and take an average of two years to complete, although the length can range from one to three years depending on the program.

These programs are often designed for those already working as engineers who want to further their careers or move into leadership roles. They may offer concentrations such as:

• Analytics
• Data science
• Leadership and management
• Manufacturing
• Supply chain management

Because these programs are for those who already have a strong foundation in industrial engineering, they are more commonly offered online than bachelor's or associate degrees in industrial engineering.

Doctorate in Industrial Engineering

Doctorate degrees are also graduate degrees, and they're the most advanced degrees you can earn in industrial engineering. Some programs may accept students with just bachelor's degrees, but many require master's degrees.

Most commonly, doctorate degrees in industrial engineering are offered as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, a type of research degree. They are intended for those who want careers in advanced research or academia.

While all programs vary, many will require three years of study and an additional one to two years for researching, preparing, and defending a PhD dissertation.

Find the Easiest Industrial Engineering Degrees

The easiest industrial engineering degrees are associate degrees, specifically in industrial engineering technology, as these require the least amount of credit hours. Explore more about industrial engineering degrees with Learn.org today.