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Systems Engineering

Types of Degrees Systems Engineering Majors Are Earning

Those studying Systems Engineering may pursue 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

Coursework for Systems Engineering build 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

This major prepares you for careers needing 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 emphasized 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

The cognitive and physical 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 Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite 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
• Instructor
• Robotics Instructor
• Industrial Engineering Professor
• Metallography Teacher
• Television Engineering Teacher
• Drafting Teacher
• Electronics Engineering Professor
• Ceramic Engineering Professor
• Environmental Engineering Professor
• Radar Engineering Teacher
• Marine Engineering Teacher
• Automotive Engineering Teacher
• Adjunct Professor
• Aeronautics 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. Wages typically rise 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 tracked 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?

Looking purely at 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	CIP Code
Engineering	14
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	14.02
Agricultural Engineering	14.03
Architectural Engineering	14.04
Biochemical Engineering	14.43
Biological/Biosystems Engineering	14.45
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	14.05
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering	14.06
Chemical Engineering	14.07
Civil Engineering	14.08
Computer Engineering	14.09
Construction Engineering	14.33

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.