Systems Engineering
Offered at 165 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 4 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 27 | $78,987 | $106,560 | $19,500 |
| Master's | 74 | $120,945 | $147,494 | — |
| Doctoral | 24 | — | — | — |
| Professional | 1 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 35 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | VA | $96,168 | $160,690 | $12,000 |
| 2 | University of Florida | FL | $87,546 | $134,767 | $19,444 |
| 3 | Washington University in St Louis | MO | — | $120,481 | — |
| 4 | George Mason University | VA | $78,298 | $117,417 | — |
| 5 | George Washington University | DC | — | $114,260 | — |
| 6 | Maine Maritime Academy | ME | $88,940 | $107,308 | — |
| 7 | University of Arizona | AZ | $78,987 | $105,813 | $23,500 |
| 8 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $84,822 | $104,729 | $19,500 |
| 9 | Kennesaw State University | GA | $72,119 | $97,071 | $31,000 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | NC | $77,082 | $90,364 | $21,979 |
| 11 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | AR | — | $88,715 | — |
| 12 | Texas A & M International University | TX | $62,755 | $69,924 | $13,186 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | $152,712 | $221,554 | — |
| 2 | University of Southern California | CA | $145,458 | $188,810 | — |
| 3 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | VA | $123,458 | $174,661 | — |
| 4 | Southern Methodist University | TX | $114,733 | $174,449 | — |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins University | MD | $144,552 | $162,312 | — |
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | GA | — | $161,520 | — |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $136,054 | $158,153 | — |
| 8 | George Washington University | DC | $133,602 | $158,151 | — |
| 9 | George Mason University | VA | $114,143 | $152,860 | — |
| 10 | The University of Texas at Dallas | TX | $143,632 | $151,745 | — |
| 11 | University of Florida | FL | $125,387 | $149,422 | — |
| 12 | Stevens Institute of Technology | NJ | $110,060 | $145,567 | — |
| 13 | Cornell University | NY | $127,771 | $145,222 | — |
| 14 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley | PA | $112,580 | $144,014 | — |
| 15 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $112,580 | $144,014 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University | DC | — | $222,983 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stevens Institute of Technology | NJ | $137,469 | — | — |
| 2 | University of Detroit Mercy | MI | $133,531 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do systems engineering graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in systems engineering reports median earnings of $78,987. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
