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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Systems Engineering

78 Ranked Colleges
2,159 Degrees Awarded
$100,752 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Systems Engineering is the 160th most popular major in the country with 3,802 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , systems engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $90,096 and had an average of $27,162 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,159 systems engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major” ranking, we looked at 78 colleges that offer a degree in systems engineering. That schools that top this list have a program in systems engineering in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Systems Engineering Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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More Systems Engineering Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The systems engineering school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree systems engineering students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Systems Engineering

1
Rensselaer at Hartford crest
Rensselaer at Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rensselaer at Hartford. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major. Rensselaer at Hartford is located in Hartford, Connecticut and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 22 masters’s systems engineering degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Rensselaer at Hartford Systems Engineering Report

2
Naval Postgraduate School crest
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Naval Postgraduate School. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major. Naval Postgraduate School is a small school located in Monterey, California that handed out 215 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Systems Engineering at Naval Postgraduate School

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major. Located in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, this small public school handed out 39 degrees to qualified masters’s systems engineering students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full AFIT Graduate School of Engineering & Management Systems Engineering Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 211 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Systems Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

5

Out of the 78 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Stevens Institute of Technology landed the #5 spot on the list. Stevens is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hoboken, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 139 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Systems Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology

6

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #6. Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution located in Daytona Beach, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 126 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Systems Engineering at Embry-Riddle Worldwide

7
Johns Hopkins crest
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland

With a ranking of #7, Johns Hopkins University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. This large school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 145 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Johns Hopkins Systems Engineering Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Florida Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. Florida Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Melbourne, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 34 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Florida Institute of Technology Systems Engineering Report

9
WPI crest
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester Polytechnic Institute did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s systems engineering students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Worcester Polytechnic Institute Systems Engineering Report

10

Lawrence Technological University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking. Lawrence Tech is located in Southfield, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 masters’s systems engineering degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Systems Engineering at Lawrence Tech

11
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. Colorado School of Mines is a medium-sized school located in Golden, Colorado that handed out 39 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Colorado School of Mines Systems Engineering Report

12

Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking. Located in Rolla, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified masters’s systems engineering students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Systems Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

13
Cornell crest
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York

Cornell University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #13. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 118 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Systems Engineering at Cornell

14
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #14. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s systems engineering degrees to 54 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Systems Engineering at Northeastern University

15

Southern Methodist University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking. Southern Methodist University is a fairly large school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 40 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Southern Methodist University Systems Engineering Report

16
GWU crest
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia

George Washington University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s systems engineering degrees to 97 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full GWU Systems Engineering Report

17
St. Mary's crest
St. Mary's University
San Antonio, Texas

St. Mary’s University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking. St. Mary’s is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 masters’s systems engineering degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Systems Engineering at St. Mary’s

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized school located in Dearborn, Michigan that handed out 16 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UM Dearborn Systems Engineering Report

19

The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution located in El Paso, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 52 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Systems Engineering at UTEP

20

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 80 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full U-M Systems Engineering Report

21
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

With a ranking of #21, University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 44 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Systems Engineering at University of Virginia

22
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #22, University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 30 masters’s systems engineering degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UPenn Systems Engineering Report

23

With a ranking of #23, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. Located in Richardson, Texas, this large public school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified masters’s systems engineering students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Systems Engineering at UT Dallas

24

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school awarded 39 diplomas to qualified masters’s systems engineering students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Systems Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

25
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Systems Engineering Major ranking. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 0 masters’s systems engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Systems Engineering at Saint Cloud State University

Notes and References

References

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