Industrial Technology Schools and Programs in The United States

Industrial Technology Studies in The United States

Industrial technology is the applied side of manufacturing and production: how machines, materials, people and processes are organised and kept running. It sits between the skilled trades and engineering. US colleges teach it under several names, including industrial technology, engineering technology, technology management and advanced manufacturing. SpainExchange lists 37 colleges and universities in the United States that teach the subject, many of them two-year community and technical colleges.

How the qualifications are organised

There are three main levels, and the lower ones can count towards the next.

• Certificates. Short, job-focused programmes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), vocational-technical schools typically award a certificate
• Associate degrees. Two-year programmes at community and technical colleges, often an Associate in Applied Science (AAS). BLS notes that industrial engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate degree or a postsecondary certificate
• Bachelor's degrees. Usually four years of full-time study at a university, with more management, quality and design content. Some universities add a master's degree

BLS says that students aiming at this work may major in applied science, industrial technology or industrial engineering technology, and that programmes may include computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software. The schools on this page show the range. Greenville Technical College in South Carolina awards the Associate in Applied Science and certificates through its School of Advanced Manufacturing and Transportation Technology, with programmes such as mechatronics, industrial electricity and CNC, and also lists a bachelor's programme in advanced manufacturing technology. Bismarck State College in North Dakota lists programmes in industrial automation and robotics and in instrumentation and control technology.

At university level, Illinois State University's Department of Technology serves over 600 students a year in six undergraduate programmes, among them engineering technology, construction management and computer systems technology, and three areas of graduate study. Morehead State University in Kentucky offers engineering technology as an AAS and a BS, and engineering and technology management as a BS and an MS. SUNY Buffalo State University teaches engineering technology and a BS in Technology Management, and describes its programmes as a broad education in mechanical and electrical systems design, manufacturing, quality, management and safety. Ferris State University in Michigan groups the field in a College of Engineering Technology that includes a School of Industrial & Transportation Technology.

Accreditation and recognition

In the United States, academic accreditation is voluntary and carried out by non-governmental organisations. Two bodies accredit programmes in this field. ABET accredits engineering technology programmes, among others, at associate, bachelor's and master's level. The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) accredits associate, bachelor's and master's programmes in technical and technical management disciplines and is recognised by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). BLS notes that employers may prefer candidates who have completed an accredited engineering or engineering technology programme. An industrial technology degree is not the same as an engineering degree, so students who want to become licensed engineers, or to have the qualification recognised in another country, should check the requirements before they enrol.

Admission, language and costs

Teaching is in English, and US institutions require an English proficiency test before admission. Each college sets its own requirements, and not every small college enrols international students: a school must be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) before its international student office can issue the Form I-20 used in the student visa application.

Community colleges are the cheaper route. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees in 2022-23 were $4,000 at public 2-year institutions and $9,800 at public 4-year institutions. These are in-district or in-state rates, so ask what the college charges international students. According to EducationUSA, a bachelor's degree can be earned with two years of community college followed by two years of university study.

Where to study industrial technology

The 37 schools are spread over many states, and no city has more than one. Most are community and technical colleges that serve local industry, such as Piedmont Technical College and Greenville Technical College in South Carolina, Alamance Community College in North Carolina, Kirkwood Community College in Iowa and Chemeketa Community College in Oregon. Universities on the list include Purdue University, Illinois State University, Ferris State University, Morehead State University, Old Dominion University, West Virginia University and Central Connecticut State University. When comparing schools, look at the level of the qualification, whether credits transfer to a bachelor's degree, programme accreditation, and the college's links with local employers for internships.

Careers

BLS counts about 76,700 industrial engineering technologists and technicians in 2025 and projects employment to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,600 openings a year. The largest employers are transportation equipment manufacturing and computer and electronic product manufacturing, each with 15% of jobs. With a bachelor's degree and several years of experience, a common next step is industrial production manager, an occupation with about 252,100 jobs in 2025.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study industrial technology in the United States?

An associate degree at a community or technical college takes about two years, and a bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. Certificates are shorter.

Is industrial technology the same as industrial engineering?

No. According to BLS, industrial engineering technologists and technicians help engineers solve problems affecting manufacturing layout or production, and typically enter with an associate degree or certificate, while the typical entry qualification for industrial engineers is a bachelor's degree.

Can I move from a community college to a university?

Often, yes. EducationUSA describes the route of two years at a community college followed by two years at a university. Applied degrees do not always transfer in full, so check the transfer agreement first.