2026 Best Value Systems Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the systems engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Systems Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Missouri University Of Science And Technology the best value for a degree in systems engineering in the The Plains States Region. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete the systems engineering program here. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $111,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wichita State University earned it the #2 place for systems engineering. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete the systems engineering program here. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $49,278. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #3 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the best values for systems engineering. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $83,874. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Narrow Systems Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
[Systems Engineering](/majors/engineering/systems-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
