Bright outlook
Management
Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Systems Engineering
CIP14.27
86 colleges offer Systems Engineering. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 86
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $110,810
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $19,500
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 6
- Bachelor's
- 32
- Master's
- 86
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 5
- Doctoral
- 31
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 48
What it covers
About Systems Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of total systems solutions to a wide variety of engineering problems, including the integration of human, physical, energy, communications, management, and information requirements as needed, and the application of requisite analytical methods to specific situations.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 14.27.
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 6 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 32 | $110,8104 yrs after · 10 colleges | $19,5007 colleges |
| Master's | 86 | $144,0124 yrs after · 22 colleges | $32,1397 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 31 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 48 | $135,5001 yr after · 2 colleges | $20,5001 college |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Systems Engineering graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Charlottesville, VA · Public · 61 graduates
$144,830
debt $12,000
- 2
Gainesville, FL · Public · 93 graduates
$122,299
debt $19,472
- 3
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 13 graduates
$120,976
debt not reported
- 4
Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit · 16 graduates
$119,297
debt not reported
- 5
Fairfax, VA · Public · 18 graduates
$114,815
debt not reported
- 6
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public · 58 graduates
$106,805
debt $19,500
- 7
Tucson, AZ · Public · 40 graduates
$100,468
debt $20,376
- 8
Kennesaw, GA · Public · 27 graduates
$89,696
debt $21,260
- 9
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public · 24 graduates
$84,648
debt $21,500
- 10
Texas A & M International University
Laredo, TX · Public · 27 graduates
$60,126
debt $13,649
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Systems Engineering by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Data Warehousing Specialists
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Programming
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Database Architects
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
Architecture and engineering
Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
Architecture and engineering
Engineers, All Other
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
Architecture and engineering
Mechatronics Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
Architecture and engineering
Microsystems Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
More in Engineering
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Engineering, General452 colleges
- Mechanical Engineering395 colleges
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering387 colleges
- Computer Engineering367 colleges
- Civil Engineering300 colleges
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering200 colleges
- Chemical Engineering182 colleges
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering130 colleges
Questions about Systems Engineering
How many colleges offer Systems Engineering?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Systems Engineering at these degree levels: certificate (6 colleges), bachelor's (32 colleges), master's (86 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (5 colleges), doctoral (31 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (48 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Systems Engineering graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Systems Engineering earn $110,810 a year four years after finishing, across 10 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Systems Engineering graduates earn the most?
University of Virginia reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Systems Engineering: $144,830 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.