by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 93 U.S. colleges awarded 4,489 degrees and certificates in General Systems Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 73% of graduates. College Factual ranks 54 schools in its 2027 Best General Systems Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $107,816 one year after completing, rising to $137,014 after four years.
A major in General Systems Engineering covers 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. Examples: [Industrial/manufacturing Systems Engineering], [Decision Engineering], [Dynamical Systems], [Product Development Engineering], [Logistics Engineering], [Systems Engineering Management], [Capability-Based Systems], [Optimization], [Modeling And Simulation].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general systems engineering is a popular field of study, with 4,489 degrees awarded annually. 93 colleges award general systems engineering degrees, an average of 48 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 652.
By level, the 4,489 awards include 685 bachelor’s degrees, 3,260 master’s degrees and 159 doctorates.
Women earned 31% of general systems engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,400 of 4,489). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,911) and Hispanic or Latino (583), and international students earned 894.
College Factual ranks 54 schools in its 2027 Best General Systems Engineering Schools ranking, including 13 for bachelor’s degrees, 42 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks general systems engineering schools within 19 states. In all, 93 colleges offer general systems engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Systems Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general systems engineering credential is the master’s degree: 3,260 of the 4,489 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general systems engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a general systems engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 685 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,260 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 159 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general systems engineering, at 40.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 22.1% |
| Master’s degree | 14.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
18 occupations are related to General Systems Engineering, with an average median salary of $99,257; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Engineer, Electrical Engineering Lecturer, Electronics Engineering Professor and Ship Design Teacher.
The occupation related to general systems engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | 395,031 | 12.1% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Database Architects | 335,771 | 4.3% |
| Validation Engineers | 298,574 | 4.8% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
General Systems Engineering graduates earn a median $107,816 one year after completing their program, $137,014 after four years and $137,202 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $107,816 |
| 4 years | $137,014 |
| 5 years | $137,202 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general systems engineering is Database Architects, with a median salary of $148,480.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Database Architects | $148,480 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | $128,495 |
| Industrial Engineers | $120,863 |
| Data Warehousing Specialists | $117,424 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
