Virginia · Systems Engineering

Best colleges for Systems Engineering in Virginia

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Virginia, George Mason University and ECPI University award the most Systems Engineering degrees and certificates in Virginia: 156, 44 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 Virginia colleges offer Systems Engineering and award 251 degrees and certificates a year in all.

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…

Institutions
4
offering CIP 14.27
States offered
31
with a program page
Degrees / yr
251
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$84,942
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,909
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
73%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Industrial Engineers
$109,170
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Virginia
Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree
$91,17815696%—$19,500
2George Mason University
Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree
$84,9424468%—$21,000

Colleges awarding the most Systems Engineering degrees in Virginia

Top 4 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Virginia
Charlottesville Public
156$91,178
2George Mason University
Fairfax Public
44$84,942
3ECPI University
Virginia Beach Private for-profit
32Not reported
4Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg Public
19Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+11.0%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~25,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$101,140
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingMonitoring

What Industrial Engineers earn in Virginia

Jobs in Virginia
5,580
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$109,170
median $102,550
Best-paying metro
$111,430
Richmond, VA

Related careers

Industrial Engineers
$109,170 avg · 5,580 jobs
Database Architects
$154,550 avg · 5,260 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Systems Engineering programs in Virginia.

Which Virginia colleges award the most Systems Engineering degrees?+

University of Virginia (156 graduates a year), George Mason University (44 graduates a year) and ECPI University (32 graduates a year) award the most Systems Engineering degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 Virginia colleges offer Systems Engineering.

Which Systems Engineering program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Virginia tops the list at $91,178. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Industrial Engineers earn in Virginia?+

The average annual wage for Industrial Engineers in Virginia is $109,170 (median $102,550), across about 5,580 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Systems Engineering program?+

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…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Industrial Engineers?+

The national job outlook is about +11.0% growth with around 25,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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