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2026 Best Systems Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region

12 Colleges in the United States
938 Systems Engineering Degrees Awarded
$83,029 Avg Early-Career Salary

Systems Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools to find the best for systems engineering students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Systems Engineering in the Southeast 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

1

Our analysis ranked Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in systems engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 40 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their systems engineering degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $118,944 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. More information about a degree in systems engineering from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

2
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best systems engineering schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 499 systems engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $96,835. Typical student debt for the program is $19,250. Read more about the systems engineering program at University Of Florida

3

University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in systems engineering, ranking #3. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 117 systems engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $103,476 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. See the full systems engineering program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Louisiana Lafayette one of the top schools for systems engineering. This large public university is located in the city of Lafayette. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Louisiana Lafayette awarded about 14 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the systems engineering program make about $42,873 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,373. Read more about the systems engineering program at University Of Louisiana Lafayette

5

A rank of #5 makes George Mason University one of the top schools for systems engineering. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 systems engineering students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their systems engineering degree from George Mason University earn around $101,091 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. See the full systems engineering program report for George Mason University

6
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University came in at #6 for systems engineering this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Florida State University awarded about 31 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Systems Engineering graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete this degree. Read more about the systems engineering program at Florida State University

7

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide came in at #7 for systems engineering this year. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a large private not-for-profit university. About 23% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 78 systems engineering students who graduated with this degree at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide generally make around $115,154. Typical student debt for the program is $20,787. Get the full systems engineering details for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

8

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #8 among the best systems engineering schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 24 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Systems Engineering graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $68,034 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the systems engineering program at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

9
Ecpi University crest
Ecpi University
Virginia Beach, VA

Ecpi University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best systems engineering schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit university. About 28% of students finish within six years. Ecpi University awarded about 14 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the systems engineering program make about $48,429 in their early career. Ecpi University graduates carry a median of $27,988 in student loans. Read more about the systems engineering program at Ecpi University

10

Florida Institute Of Technology landed the #10 spot for systems engineering this year. Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates 62% of students within six years. About 35 systems engineering degrees were awarded at Florida Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Systems Engineering graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology earn a median of $104,584 early in their careers. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans. See the full systems engineering program report for Florida Institute Of Technology

11

Kennesaw State University placed #11 among the best systems engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Kennesaw State University graduates 52% of students within six years. Kennesaw State University awarded about 43 systems engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Systems Engineering graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $62,015 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. More information about a degree in systems engineering from Kennesaw State University

View All Systems Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 27 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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