2027 Best Value Systems Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
[Systems Engineering](/majors/engineering/systems-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong 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 systems engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Systems Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in systems engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Systems Engineering Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for systems engineering in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the systems engineering program here. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $96,835. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place for systems engineering. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Early-career systems engineering graduates make about $118,944. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Central Florida earned it the #3 place for systems engineering. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #4 place for systems engineering. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
Students looking for strong value in systems engineering will find it at University Of Louisiana Lafayette, which ranked #5. University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public school located in the city of Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,146. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $24,373. 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. University Of Louisiana Lafayette admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #6 for value in systems engineering this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the systems engineering program here. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $68,034 early in their careers. 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 came in at #7 for value in systems engineering this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $62,015. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University landed the #8 spot for systems engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $21,000. Early-career 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 ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value systems engineering schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $20,787 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in systems engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the systems engineering program here. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $103,476 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Ecpi University came in at #11 for value in systems engineering 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. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $27,988. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from Ecpi University generally make around $48,429. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ecpi University admits about 74% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value systems engineering schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for systems engineering graduates is $23,393. Systems Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value systems engineering schools. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,900. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans. Systems Engineering graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology earn a median of $104,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Institute Of Technology admits about 58% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 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.
