2027 Best Value General Systems Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
[General Systems Engineering](/majors/engineering/systems-engineering/general-systems-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general systems engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general systems engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Systems Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general systems engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Systems Engineering Schools
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value general systems engineering schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the general systems engineering program here. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $96,835. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place for general systems engineering. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the general systems engineering program here. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $118,944. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Central Florida earned it the #3 place for general systems engineering. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the general systems engineering program here. General Systems Engineering graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Florida State University one of the best values for general systems engineering. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general systems engineering graduates is $20,488. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $51,884. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general systems engineering schools. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,373 in student loans. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $42,873. That is a strong return on a $24,373 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #6 for value in general systems engineering this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general systems engineering degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $68,034. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Kennesaw State University placed #7 among the best values for general systems engineering. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general systems engineering degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $62,015. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University earned the #8 position for value in general systems engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for general systems engineering graduates is $21,000. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $101,091. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide came in at #9 for value in general systems engineering this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $12,097. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,787 in student loans. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $115,154. Set against $20,787 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in general systems engineering this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $103,476. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Ecpi University landed the #11 spot for general systems engineering value this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,484. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,988 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general systems engineering degree recipients from Ecpi University generally make around $48,429. Set against $27,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ecpi University admits about 74% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general systems engineering schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $60,004. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Florida Institute Of Technology landed the #13 spot for general systems engineering value this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,900. General Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans. Early-career general systems engineering graduates make about $104,584. That is a strong return on a $32,114 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
