Best Universities for Systems Engineering in North America

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Systems Engineering. A graph of 18.8M citations received by 480K academic papers made by 613 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Systems Engineering

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Systems Engineering

#6 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Systems Engineering

#7 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

8. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#1 in Canada

#10 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

9. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Systems Engineering

#8 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

10. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Systems Engineering

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

11. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Systems Engineering

#10 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

12. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#11 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

13. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#12 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

14. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Systems Engineering

#13 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

15. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#14 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

16. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#15 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

17. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#16 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

18. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#17 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

19. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Systems Engineering

#18 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

20. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#2 in Canada

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

21. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Systems Engineering

#19 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

22. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#20 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

23. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#3 in Canada

#41 in the World

Founded: 1957

24. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Systems Engineering

#21 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

25. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#22 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

26. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Systems Engineering

#23 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

27. New York University

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#24 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

28. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Systems Engineering

#25 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

29. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Systems Engineering

#26 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

30. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Systems Engineering

#27 in the United States

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

31. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Systems Engineering

#4 in Canada

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

32. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Systems Engineering

#5 in Canada

#60 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

33. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Systems Engineering

#28 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Systems Engineering

#29 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

35. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#30 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Systems Engineering

#31 in the United States

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

37. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#32 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

38. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#33 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

39. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Systems Engineering

#34 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

40. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Systems Engineering

#35 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

41. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#36 in the United States

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

42. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#37 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

43. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Systems Engineering

#38 in the United States

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

44. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Systems Engineering

#39 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

45. Ontario Tech University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#6 in Canada

#89 in the World

Founded: 2002

46. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Systems Engineering

#40 in the United States

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

47. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Systems Engineering

#41 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

48. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#7 in Canada

#101 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

49. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Systems Engineering

#42 in the United States

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

50. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Systems Engineering

#43 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

51. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Systems Engineering

#44 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

52. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Systems Engineering

#45 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

53. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Systems Engineering

#8 in Canada

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

54. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Systems Engineering

#9 in Canada

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

55. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#46 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

56. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Systems Engineering

#47 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

57. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Systems Engineering

#48 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

58. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Systems Engineering

#49 in the United States

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

59. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#10 in Canada

#127 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

60. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Systems Engineering

#50 in the United States

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

61. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Systems Engineering

#11 in Canada

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

62. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Systems Engineering

#51 in the United States

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

63. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#12 in Canada

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

64. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Systems Engineering

#52 in the United States

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

65. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#53 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

66. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#54 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

67. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#55 in the United States

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

68. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Systems Engineering

#56 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

69. Northeastern University

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#57 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

70. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#58 in the United States

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

71. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Systems Engineering

#59 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

72. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#13 in Canada

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,109
Founded: 1942

73. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#60 in the United States

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

74. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Systems Engineering

#61 in the United States

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

75. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Systems Engineering

#62 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

76. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#14 in Canada

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

77. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Systems Engineering

#63 in the United States

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

78. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#64 in the United States

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

79. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#65 in the United States

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

80. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Systems Engineering

#66 in the United States

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

81. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#15 in Canada

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

82. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#67 in the United States

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

83. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Systems Engineering

#68 in the United States

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

84. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#16 in Canada

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

85. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Systems Engineering

#69 in the United States

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

86. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Systems Engineering

#70 in the United States

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

87. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Systems Engineering

#17 in Canada

#255 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

88. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Systems Engineering

#71 in the United States

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

89. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Systems Engineering

#72 in the United States

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

90. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Systems Engineering

#73 in the United States

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

91. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Systems Engineering

#74 in the United States

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

92. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Systems Engineering

#75 in the United States

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

93. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Systems Engineering

#76 in the United States

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

94. Wright State University

United States | Ohio

For Systems Engineering

#77 in the United States

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $8,942
Enrollment: 10,603

95. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Systems Engineering

#78 in the United States

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

96. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Systems Engineering

#79 in the United States

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

97. Drexel University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#80 in the United States

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

98. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Systems Engineering

#81 in the United States

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

99. University of Oregon

United States | Oregon

For Systems Engineering

#82 in the United States

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

100. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#83 in the United States

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering918

Aerospace Engineering864

Agricultural Engineering99

Applied/Engineering Physics276

Architectural Engineering270

Architecture241

Automation and Control engineering267

Automotive Engineering334

Aviation255

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering317

Biotechnology510

Chemical Engineering678

Civil Engineering627

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking887

Construction Management216

Electrical Engineering923

Electronic Engineering537

Engineering Management395

Environmental Engineering401

Firefighting and Fire Science199

Geotechnical Engineering556

Human-Computer Interaction525

Industrial Engineering185

Landscape Architecture161

Marine Engineering218

Materials Science1207

Mechanical Engineering1111

Metallurgical Engineering921

Mining Engineering176

Nanotechnology652

Nuclear Engineering200

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1067

Petroleum Engineering258

Polymer science and Plastics engineering200

Product and Industrial Design223

Reliability and Quality Engineering325

Remote Sensing404

Renewable Energy Engineering281

Robotics270

Structural Engineering702

Technical Drawing198

Telecommunications868

Transportation Engineering321