2027 Best Systems Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Systems Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools to find the best for systems engineering students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Systems Engineering in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the systems engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Systems Engineering
Johns Hopkins University tops our 2027 ranking of the best systems engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 293 systems engineering students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the systems engineering program make about $135,107 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
Get the full systems engineering details for Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for systems engineering. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 112 systems engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
Read more about the systems engineering program at University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #3 makes United States Merchant Marine Academy one of the top schools for systems engineering. This small public university is located in the suburb of Kings Point. United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates 82% of students within six years. United States Merchant Marine Academy awarded about 27 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from United States Merchant Marine Academy generally make around $69,847.
More information about a degree in systems engineering from United States Merchant Marine Academy
Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in systems engineering, ranking #4. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 206 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Systems Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $117,455 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
Read more about the systems engineering program at Cornell University
George Washington University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best systems engineering schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. George Washington University awarded about 87 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $119,258. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
Read more about the systems engineering program at George Washington University
Stevens Institute Of Technology ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best systems engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hoboken. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stevens Institute Of Technology awarded about 252 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from Stevens Institute Of Technology generally make around $110,877. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans.
See the full systems engineering program report for Stevens Institute Of Technology
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #7 for systems engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 systems engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland Baltimore County in the most recent data year. Graduates of the systems engineering program make about $49,179 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,331 to complete this degree.
See the full systems engineering program report for University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #8 for systems engineering this year. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 systems engineering students who graduated with this degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Systems Engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $77,378 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,975 to complete this degree.
See the full systems engineering program report for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best systems engineering schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 83 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their systems engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn around $124,293 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates carry a median of $26,062 in student loans.
Read more about the systems engineering program at Pennsylvania State University World Campus
University Of Maryland University College earned the #10 position for systems engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland University College graduates 20% of students within six years. About 44 systems engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland University College in the most recent year. Graduates of the systems engineering program make about $115,680 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,276.
See the full systems engineering program report for University Of Maryland University College
Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology placed #11 among the best systems engineering schools. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 92 systems engineering students who graduated with this degree at Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their systems engineering degree from Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology earn around $35,098 in the first couple years of their career. Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology graduates carry a median of $28,375 in student loans.
Get the full systems engineering details for Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 schools evaluated.
- 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.