2026 Best Value General Systems Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
[General Systems Engineering](/majors/engineering/systems-engineering/general-systems-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general systems engineering students.
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2026 Best Value General Systems Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general systems engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Systems Engineering Schools
For return on investment in general systems engineering, no school beat California State University Dominguez Hills this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,886 in student loans. General Systems Engineering graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California San Diego earned it the #2 place for general systems engineering. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general systems engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern California one of the best values for general systems engineering. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Typical student debt for general systems engineering graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, general systems engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $118,363. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general systems engineering schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,867. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete the general systems engineering program here. General Systems Engineering graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $52,935 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola Marymount University admits about 45% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
