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Systems Engineering

Instructional content is defined in code 14.2701.

Types of Degrees Systems Engineering Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Systems Engineering can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	605
Master’s Degree	2,939
Doctor’s Degree	148

What Systems Engineering Majors Need to Know

Programs in Systems Engineering develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Systems Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Systems Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Systems Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Systems Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Systems Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Systems Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Systems Engineering graduates include:

• Engineer
• Mechanical Drawing Teacher
• Civil Engineering Professor
• Automotive Engineering Teacher
• Civil Engineering Teacher
• Heat Engineering Teacher
• Lecturer
• Ship Construction Teacher
• Environmental Engineering Professor
• Radar Engineering Teacher
• Adjunct Professor
• Aeronautics Teacher
• Metallurgy Teacher
• Manufacturing Engineering Professor
• Mechanical Engineering Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Systems Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	40.1%
Doctoral degree	22.1%
Master’s degree	14.1%
Post-doctoral training	5.8%
Post-master’s certificate	5.4%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.7%
Some college courses	2.0%
Postsecondary certificate	1.9%
First professional degree	1.1%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.9%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Systems Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 70.1% of Systems Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	1,182	29.9%
Men	2,774	70.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Systems Engineering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	1,794	45.3%
Asian	314	7.9%
Hispanic or Latino	494	12.5%
Black or African American	200	5.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	5	0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	2	0.1%
Two or More Races	131	3.3%
Race Unknown	233	5.9%
International Students	783	19.8%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Systems Engineering Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Systems Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$106,540
4 years	$121,140
5 years	$136,733

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $136,733 — roughly 28% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Systems Engineering Programs

Distance learning is reported by IPEDS for Systems Engineering. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	24	22
Doctoral (Research)	3	4

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Systems Engineering Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Systems Engineering graduates earn a median of $121,140 four years after completion — roughly 219% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Engineering	197,615
Mechanical Engineering	42,939
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	26,760
Civil Engineering	20,005
Computer Engineering	19,986
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	13,914
Engineering, General	13,411
Chemical Engineering	10,939
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	9,596
Industrial Engineering	8,533
Engineering, Other	3,529
Materials Engineering	3,129

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.