# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/systems-engineering
- CIP code: 14.27 (Engineering)
- Colleges offering it: 86 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/engineering

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 32 | $78,987 | $110,810 | $19,500 |
| Master's | 86 | $124,055 | $144,012 | $32,139 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 31 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 48 | $135,500 | not reported | $20,500 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Virginia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus-uva-3072) | Charlottesville, VA | $144,830 | $12,000 |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Gainesville, FL | $122,299 | $19,472 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $120,976 | not reported |
| [Washington University in St Louis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Saint Louis, MO | $119,297 | not reported |
| [George Mason University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-mason-university-1065) | Fairfax, VA | $114,815 | not reported |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Champaign, IL | $106,805 | $19,500 |
| [University of Arizona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-arizona-main-campus-2867) | Tucson, AZ | $100,468 | $20,376 |
| [Kennesaw State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/kennesaw-state-university-1376) | Kennesaw, GA | $89,696 | $21,260 |
| [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte-2991) | Charlotte, NC | $84,648 | $21,500 |
| [Texas A & M International University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-international-university-2693) | Laredo, TX | $60,126 | $13,649 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Architectural and Engineering Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/architectural-and-engineering-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biofuels-biodiesel-technology-and-product-development-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Data Warehousing Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-warehousing-specialists): $139,500 median pay
- [Database Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-architects): $139,500 median pay
- [Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/energy-engineers-except-wind-and-solar): $122,930 median pay
- [Engineers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineers-all-other): $122,930 median pay
- [Mechatronics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechatronics-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Microsystems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/microsystems-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Nanosystems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nanosystems-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Photonics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/photonics-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Robotics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/robotics-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Solar Energy Systems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-energy-systems-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Wind Energy Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineering-teachers-postsecondary): $109,270 median pay
- [Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/human-factors-engineers-and-ergonomists): $102,440 median pay
- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Manufacturing Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/manufacturing-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Validation Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/validation-engineers): $102,440 median pay

## More in Engineering

- [Engineering, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/engineering-general): 452 colleges
- [Mechanical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mechanical-engineering): 395 colleges
- [Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/electrical-electronics-and-communications-engineering): 387 colleges
- [Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-engineering): 367 colleges
- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/civil-engineering): 300 colleges
- [Biomedical/Medical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biomedical-medical-engineering): 200 colleges
- [Chemical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemical-engineering): 182 colleges
- [Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/environmental-environmental-health-engineering): 130 colleges

## Guides on this field

- [How to Compare Colleges by Major: Engineering, STEM, Pre-Med, and Business](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/how-to-compare-colleges-by-major)

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/