2026 Best Value Systems Engineering Schools in the Southeast 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
For return on investment in systems engineering, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $19,250. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $96,835. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value systems engineering schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $24,323. Systems Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $118,944 early in their careers. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value systems engineering schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a great value for students pursuing a degree in systems engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,373 to complete the systems engineering program here. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of $42,873 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a great value for students pursuing a degree in systems engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $68,034. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University came in at #6 for value in systems engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $101,091. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kennesaw State University placed #7 among the best values for systems engineering. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the systems engineering program here. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $62,015. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide came in at #8 for value in 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. Students borrow a median of $20,787 to complete the systems engineering program here. Systems Engineering graduates of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide earn a median of $115,154 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Ecpi University landed the #9 spot for systems engineering value this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,484. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,988 in student loans. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $48,429. That is a strong return on a $27,988 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in systems engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $103,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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/) 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.
