Systems Engineering

CIP Code: 14.2701

A systems engineering degree prepares graduates for careers in Architectural and engineering managers, Database architects, Engineers, all other and more. 98 colleges and universities offer this program.

Annual Degrees Awarded
3,956
Colleges Offering 98
Avg. Career Salary $125,746
Top Career Salary $167,740

Systems Engineering Salary by College

Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $105,185 four years after graduating (middle half: $79,659–$137,602). Where you study it matters: across 11 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $60,126 to $144,830.

Sort by:

#College4 yrs afterWage-adjusted1 yr afterMedian debtOutcome Rating
1University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA$144,830$131,881$91,178$19,500A+
2Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MA$125,191$110,244$79,942$27,000A
3University of Florida Gainesville, FL$122,299$130,172$85,698$19,750A+
4George Washington University Washington, DC$120,976$106,006——A+
5Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO$119,297$127,912$83,874$23,139A+
6George Mason University Fairfax, VA$114,815$104,550$84,942$20,500B+
7University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL$106,805$104,935$81,785$17,800A+
8University of Arizona Tucson, AZ$100,468$103,233$76,660$18,500B
9Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA$89,696$92,854$62,015$21,571C+
10University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC$84,648$90,839$68,034$26,000B
11Texas A & M International University Laredo, TX$60,126$61,131$49,755$8,800D

Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.

What Can You Do With a Systems Engineering Degree?

Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:

Architectural and engineering managers

$167,740 +3.8% growth

Database architects

$135,980 +8.7% growth

Engineers, all other

$117,750 +2.1% growth

Engineering teachers, postsecondary

$106,120 +8.1% growth

Industrial engineers

$101,140 +11.0% growth
$125,746
Average Salary Across Careers
$167,740
Highest Paying Career
5
Career Paths Available

Best Colleges for Systems Engineering

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in systems engineering.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 109 A+
2 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 499 A
3 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 242 A
4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 204 A
5 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 129 A
6 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA 117 A
7 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 88 A
8 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 67 A
9 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 62 A
10 Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO 41 A
11 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA 40 A
12 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 31 A
13 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL 65 B+
14 Northeastern University Boston, MA 47 B+
15 United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY 36 B+
16 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 31 B+
17 Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ 271 B
18 George Washington University Washington, DC 96 B
19 Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO 77 B
20 The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX 72 B
21 University of Denver Denver, CO 72 B
22 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 70 B
23 University of Houston Houston, TX 56 B
24 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA 48 B
25 Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO 46 B
26 George Mason University Fairfax, VA 44 B
27 Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO 39 B
28 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 29 B
29 Texas A & M International University Laredo, TX 27 B
30 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA 25 B

Largest Systems Engineering Programs

Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most systems engineering graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 499 A
2 Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA 351 C
3 Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ 271 B
4 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 242 A
5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 204 A
6 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 129 A
7 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA 117 A
8 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 109 A+
9 George Washington University Washington, DC 96 B
10 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 88 A
11 Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 87 C
12 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Daytona Beach, FL 78 C
13 Colorado School of Mines Golden, CO 77 B
14 The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX 72 B
15 University of Denver Denver, CO 72 B
16 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 70 B
17 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 67 A
18 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL 65 B+
19 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 62 A
20 University of Houston Houston, TX 56 B
21 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA 48 B
22 Northeastern University Boston, MA 47 B+
23 Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO 46 B
24 George Mason University Fairfax, VA 44 B
25 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA 43 C+
26 Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO 41 A
27 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA 40 A
28 Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO 39 B
29 The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX 38 C+
30 United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY 36 B+
3,956
Degrees Awarded Annually
98
Colleges Offering Program
5
Related Careers

About Systems Engineering

Systems Engineering is a degree program offered at 98 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 3,956 students graduate with this degree.

Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as architectural and engineering managers, database architects, engineers, all other, engineering teachers, postsecondary, industrial engineers.

Program Classification

CIP Code 14.2701
Field (2-digit CIP) 14
Category (4-digit CIP) 14.27

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a Systems Engineering degree?
A Systems Engineering degree can lead to careers as a architectural and engineering managers, database architects, engineers, all other, engineering teachers, postsecondary, industrial engineers, and more. Top earners in related careers can make up to $167,740 annually.
How many colleges offer Systems Engineering?
98 colleges and universities in the United States offer Systems Engineering as a degree program. Each year, approximately 3,956 students graduate with this degree.
What are the best colleges for Systems Engineering?
The best colleges for Systems Engineering based on Repit's ratings include University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Florida, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University. Rankings are based on the college's overall Repit grade and the number of degrees awarded in this program.
What is the salary potential with a Systems Engineering degree?
Graduates with a Systems Engineering degree can expect average salaries around $125,746 in related careers, with top earners making up to $167,740. Actual salaries depend on the specific career path, experience level, and location.