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2026 Highest Paid Systems Engineering Grads in the The Plains States Region

[Systems Engineering](/majors/engineering/systems-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their systems engineering graduates go on to command.

College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying systems engineering schools.

What’s on this page:

• Highest Paid Systems Engineering Grads in the The Plains States Region

2026 Highest Paid Systems Engineering Grads in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools whose systems engineering graduates go on to earn the most.

Highest Paid Systems Engineering Graduates

1

Washington University In St Louis
St. Louis, MO

$83,874 Average Early-Career Salary

Washington University In St Louis earned the #1 spot for highest-paid systems engineering graduates in the The Plains States Region. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the systems engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,874.

2

Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Rolla, MO

$111,229 Average Early-Career Salary

Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying systems engineering schools. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the systems engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $111,229.

3

University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Saint Paul, MN

$103,763 Average Early-Career Salary

Students chasing top earnings in systems engineering will find them at University Of St Thomas Minnesota, which ranked #3. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. After graduating, systems engineering degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota typically earn about $103,763 annually.

View All Systems Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries systems engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).

Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 3 schools evaluated.

*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.

• 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.
• Graduate earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard) field-of-study earnings.

More about our data sources and methodologies.