Best colleges for Systems Engineering
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Systems Engineering by graduate earnings are University of Virginia ($91,178), University of Florida ($85,698) and George Mason University ($84,942), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): $91,178, 156 graduates a year
- University of Florida (Gainesville, FL): $85,698, 652 graduates a year
- George Mason University (Fairfax, VA): $84,942, 44 graduates a year
- Washington University in St Louis (St. Louis, MO): $83,874, 31 graduates a year
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL): $81,785, 78 graduates a year
Compare 93 U.S. colleges offering Systems Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 31 states.
Systems Engineering programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $81,785 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 14.27 and the Industrial Engineers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Systems Engineering programs
The Systems Engineering program is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on designing, integrating, and managing complex systems throughout their life cycles. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding how various components work together to achieve specific functions and outcomes in engineering projects.
Students in the Systems Engineering program will develop critical skills in areas such as critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers engineering principles, production processes, and quality assurance, providing a solid foundation for managing complex systems.
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $91,178 | 156 | 96% | — | $19,500 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,698 | 652 | 91% | — | $19,250 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,942 | 44 | 68% | — | $21,000 |
| 4 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,874 | 31 | 94% | $14,126 | $20,500 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,785 | 78 | 85% | — | $17,800 |
| 6 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,660 | 57 | 68% | — | $18,250 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,034 | 27 | 69% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,015 | 48 | 52% | — | $31,000 |
| 9 | Texas A & M International University Laredo, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,755 | 34 | 46% | — | $10,243 |
| 10 | Otterbein University Westerville, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $63,243 | 4 | 68% | $20,150 | $27,000 |
Specializations within Systems Engineering
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 14.27 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 31 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 4 | $91,178 | University of Virginia |
| Florida | 7 | $85,698 | University of Florida |
| Missouri | 3 | $83,874 | Washington University in St Louis |
| Illinoislimited | 2 | $81,785 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| Arizona | 3 | $76,660 | University of Arizona |
| North Carolinalimited | 2 | $68,034 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
| Ohio | 5 | $63,243 | Otterbein University |
| Georgialimited | 2 | $62,015 | Kennesaw State University |
| Texas | 9 | $49,755 | Texas A & M International University |
| Alabamalimited | 1 | — | — |
| California | 7 | — | — |
| Colorado | 6 | — | — |
| District of Columbialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Kansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Kentuckylimited | 1 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Maryland | 4 | — | — |
| Massachusetts | 4 | — | — |
| Michigan | 5 | — | — |
| Minnesotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jersey | 3 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 1 | — | — |
| New York | 5 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 2 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2112, Industrial Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Systems Engineering program can expect a strong job outlook, with an estimated growth rate of 11% and approximately 25,200 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is around $101,140, and a typical educational requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Systems Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.27.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.27 (Systems Engineering) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 15-1243 | Database Architects |
| 17-2112 | Industrial Engineersprimary |
| 17-2199 | Engineers, All Other |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Systems Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
- Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
- Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.
- Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
- Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
Common questions
What is Systems Engineering?+
Systems Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on designing and managing complex systems.
What skills will I learn?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for Systems Engineering graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an estimated growth rate of 11%.
What is the typical education required?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in Systems Engineering.
How much do Systems Engineering graduates earn?+
Systems Engineering graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $81,785, College Scorecard (2019); the Industrial Engineers occupation pays about $109,900 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Systems Engineering?+
Systems Engineering maps to CIP 14.27 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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