2027 Best Value Systems Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Systems Engineering](/majors/engineering/systems-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for systems engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Systems Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in systems engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Systems Engineering Schools
For return on investment in systems engineering, no school beat University Of Michigan Dearborn this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $62,536. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for systems engineering. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $122,914. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #3 place for systems engineering. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $17,800. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $81,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in systems engineering will find it at University Of Detroit Mercy, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,946. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $76,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for systems engineering. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Dayton landed the #6 spot for systems engineering value this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $25,033. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $56,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.