University at Buffalo (UB), the largest campus in the SUNY system, runs its MS in Industrial Engineering through the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, one of UB's most established and best-ranked colleges (UB's undergraduate Civil Engineering programme ranks in the US News top 5 nationally, reflecting the broader strength of the engineering school Industrial Engineering sits within). For international applicants, UB's pitch is genuine accessibility combined with real research and career infrastructure: a public SUNY tuition rate well below private-university sticker prices, a straightforward published set of English-proficiency minimums, and a Career Design Center reporting that roughly 92% of recent graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months.
This guide walks through what UB publishes about MS Industrial Engineering admissions, cost, English-test requirements, and outcomes.
Acceptance Rate: What UB Actually Publishes
UB does not publish a separate acceptance rate for the MS in Industrial Engineering, and graduate admission at UB overall is decentralized, meaning individual departments, not a central graduate admissions office, set specific selection criteria. What is published:
- UB's undergraduate acceptance rate is 55.1%, a university-wide first-year figure that reflects UB's genuinely accessible admissions profile relative to elite private universities.
- This 55.1% figure is a university-wide undergraduate number, not an Industrial Engineering-specific or graduate-level figure; UB does not publish a specific MS Industrial Engineering acceptance rate, so this should be treated as directional context about UB's overall selectivity posture, not a precise proxy for graduate admission odds.
- Because graduate admission is decentralized, the realistic selectivity of MS Industrial Engineering depends on the specific cohort size and applicant pool for a given cycle, which the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences does not publish as a public percentage.
Bottom line: UB is a genuinely accessible university overall (55% undergraduate acceptance), but no verified MS Industrial Engineering-specific admit rate exists. Treat the programme as moderately competitive rather than assuming the university-wide figure applies directly.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
UB's graduate tuition follows SUNY's non-resident (international) graduate rate, which applies uniformly regardless of department.
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $23,100 |
| Living expenses | $18,000 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $41,100 |
For the two-year MS in Industrial Engineering, total programme cost before funding runs approximately $82,000. UB's graduate application fee is $75 (varies somewhat by programme). Some PhD and select master's students fund part of their cost through teaching or research assistantships, which typically include a tuition scholarship plus a stipend, though this is competitive and department-specific rather than guaranteed for all Industrial Engineering master's applicants.
Admission Requirements
MS Industrial Engineering admission runs through UB's online graduate application system (program-specific), per UB's published graduate requirements:
- Bachelor's degree transcripts, expecting the equivalent of a 3.0/4.0 GPA or higher
- English proficiency test scores unless exempt
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation (program-dependent)
- GRE/GMAT scores, only for programs that specifically require them; UB states GRE/GMAT policy is set at the department level, so confirm directly whether Industrial Engineering currently requires it
- Nonrefundable application fee of approximately $75
Deadlines vary by department; most programs set Fall deadlines between December and June, with Spring deadlines typically September through November. Because admission is decentralized, always confirm Industrial Engineering's specific current deadline and GRE policy directly with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences rather than relying on the university-wide baseline.
How to Get Into UB's MS Industrial Engineering
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Confirm Industrial Engineering's specific GRE/GMAT policy before assuming it's optional. UB's decentralized graduate admissions mean this varies by department and can change between cycles, unlike a fixed university-wide rule.
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Clear the English-proficiency floor with real margin, not the bare minimum. UB's published graduate minimums (TOEFL 79/IELTS 6.5) are comparatively accessible, but STEM programs like Industrial Engineering often expect stronger scores in practice, particularly for Speaking given TA and lab-based coursework expectations.
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Target a GPA meaningfully above the 3.0/4.0 floor. Since Industrial Engineering is one of UB's more selective engineering master's tracks relative to some other departments, a stronger academic record than the published minimum improves your odds.
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Write a statement of purpose with a specific technical focus (e.g. operations research, manufacturing systems, supply chain analytics, human factors), since Industrial Engineering spans a genuinely broad set of subfields and admissions committees respond to applicants who show they understand what they're applying into.
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Apply well ahead of the department's specific deadline, not the university-wide range, since Industrial Engineering's exact Fall/Spring cutoff can differ from other engineering departments at UB.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
UB publishes a university-wide graduate English-proficiency floor that applies to MS Industrial Engineering absent a stricter department-specific requirement:
- IELTS: minimum 6.5 overall, recommended 7.0
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 79, recommended 90 (TOEFL Essentials minimum 8.5)
- PTE Academic: minimum 55
- Duolingo English Test: minimum 120
- Waiver: available for applicants holding a bachelor's or graduate degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction, and for citizens of designated English-speaking countries; Cambridge CPE/CAE score of 185+ also satisfies the requirement
- Because admission is decentralized, some departments (including programs with heavy TA/clinical duties) require higher section scores than this university-wide floor; confirm directly with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
For general context on studying at UB, see University at Buffalo: The Complete Guide.
Career Outcomes
UB does not break out MS Industrial Engineering-specific salary or placement data, but its graduate-level outcomes and recruiter list give a strong general proxy:
- Graduate employment rate after 6 months: ~92% (university-wide graduate figure)
- Top recruiters (university-wide graduate): M&T Bank, Deloitte, Cisco, Sysco, Kaleida Health, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Industrial Engineering graduates specifically are well-positioned for manufacturing, operations, supply chain, and process-improvement roles across the Buffalo/Western New York region's manufacturing base, alongside broader consulting and analytics roles nationally.
Since UB does not publish an Industrial Engineering-specific average starting salary, treat the university-wide 92% employment figure as directional, not a programme-specific guarantee.
FAQ
What is the acceptance rate for UB's MS in Industrial Engineering? UB does not publish an Industrial Engineering-specific graduate acceptance rate. The best available reference point is UB's undergraduate acceptance rate of 55.1%, but this is a university-wide undergraduate figure, not a precise proxy for this graduate programme's selectivity.
Is the GRE required for UB's MS Industrial Engineering? It depends on current department policy. UB states GRE/GMAT requirements are set at the department level rather than university-wide, so confirm directly with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences before applying.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? The university-wide graduate floor is IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 (TOEFL Essentials 8.5), PTE Academic 55, or Duolingo 120. Some departments set stricter requirements, so confirm the current figure for Industrial Engineering specifically.
How much does UB's MS in Industrial Engineering cost? Tuition is $23,100/year, with total estimated cost of attendance (including living expenses) around $41,100/year, or roughly $82,000 for the full two-year program before any funding.
Does UB offer funding for Industrial Engineering master's students? Some PhD and select master's students secure teaching or research assistantships that include a tuition scholarship plus stipend, but this is competitive and department-specific rather than guaranteed.
How does UB rank for engineering? UB is ranked #76 (tied) nationally by US News overall, with individual engineering programs ranking considerably higher, including a top-5 national ranking for undergraduate Civil Engineering, reflecting the broader strength of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences that Industrial Engineering sits within.