Best Universities for Systems Engineering in North America

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 17.9M citations received by 471K academic papers made by 605 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: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

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: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

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: $17,998

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Systems Engineering

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Systems Engineering

#6 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Systems Engineering

#7 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

8. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#1 in Canada

#10 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
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: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

10. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Systems Engineering

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

11. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#10 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

12. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Systems Engineering

#11 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

13. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#12 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

14. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#13 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

15. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Systems Engineering

#14 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#15 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

17. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#16 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

18. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#17 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

19. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Systems Engineering

#18 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

20. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Systems Engineering

#19 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

21. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#20 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

22. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Systems Engineering

#21 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

23. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#2 in Canada

#39 in the World

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

24. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#3 in Canada

#40 in the World

Founded: 1957

25. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#22 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

26. New York University

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#23 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

27. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Systems Engineering

#24 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

28. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Systems Engineering

#25 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

29. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Systems Engineering

#26 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

30. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Systems Engineering

#27 in the United States

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

31. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Systems Engineering

#4 in Canada

#58 in the World

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

32. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Systems Engineering

#28 in the United States

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

33. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Systems Engineering

#5 in Canada

#60 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Systems Engineering

#29 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

35. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Systems Engineering

#30 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

36. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#31 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

37. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#32 in the United States

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

38. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#33 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

39. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Systems Engineering

#34 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

40. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Systems Engineering

#35 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

41. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#36 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

42. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#37 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

43. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Systems Engineering

#38 in the United States

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

44. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Systems Engineering

#39 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

45. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Systems Engineering

#40 in the United States

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

46. Ontario Tech University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#6 in Canada

#90 in the World

Founded: 2002

47. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Systems Engineering

#41 in the United States

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

48. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Systems Engineering

#42 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

49. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#7 in Canada

#101 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

50. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Systems Engineering

#43 in the United States

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

51. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Systems Engineering

#44 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

52. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Systems Engineering

#45 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

53. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Systems Engineering

#8 in Canada

#111 in the World

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

54. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Systems Engineering

#9 in Canada

#112 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

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

56. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Systems Engineering

#47 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

57. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Systems Engineering

#48 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

58. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Systems Engineering

#49 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

59. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#10 in Canada

#124 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

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

61. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Systems Engineering

#51 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

62. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Systems Engineering

#11 in Canada

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

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

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

65. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Systems Engineering

#53 in the United States

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

66. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#54 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

67. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#55 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

68. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Systems Engineering

#56 in the United States

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

69. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#57 in the United States

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. Northeastern University

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#58 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

71. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#13 in Canada

#178 in the World

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

72. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Systems Engineering

#59 in the United States

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

73. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Systems Engineering

#60 in the United States

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

74. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Systems Engineering

#61 in the United States

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

75. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Systems Engineering

#62 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

76. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#14 in Canada

#199 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

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

78. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#64 in the United States

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

79. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#65 in the United States

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

80. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Systems Engineering

#66 in the United States

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

81. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Systems Engineering

#67 in the United States

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

82. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#15 in Canada

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

83. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Systems Engineering

#16 in Canada

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

84. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Systems Engineering

#68 in the United States

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

85. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Systems Engineering

#69 in the United States

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

86. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Systems Engineering

#17 in Canada

#243 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

87. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Systems Engineering

#70 in the United States

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

88. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Systems Engineering

#71 in the United States

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

89. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Systems Engineering

#72 in the United States

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

90. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Systems Engineering

#73 in the United States

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

91. Wright State University

United States | Ohio

For Systems Engineering

#74 in the United States

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1072
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Systems Engineering

#75 in the United States

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

93. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Systems Engineering

#76 in the United States

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

94. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Systems Engineering

#77 in the United States

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

95. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Systems Engineering

#78 in the United States

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

96. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Systems Engineering

#79 in the United States

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

97. University of Oregon

United States | Oregon

For Systems Engineering

#80 in the United States

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

98. Florida Atlantic University

United States | Florida

For Systems Engineering

#81 in the United States

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

99. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Systems Engineering

#82 in the United States

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

100. Drexel University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Systems Engineering

#83 in the United States

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering915

Aerospace Engineering860

Agricultural Engineering103

Applied/Engineering Physics270

Architectural Engineering265

Architecture239

Automation and Control engineering263

Automotive Engineering329

Aviation264

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering312

Biotechnology505

Chemical Engineering675

Civil Engineering619

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking878

Construction Management213

Electrical Engineering917

Electronic Engineering533

Engineering Management386

Environmental Engineering398

Firefighting and Fire Science196

Geotechnical Engineering552

Human-Computer Interaction512

Industrial Engineering189

Landscape Architecture158

Marine Engineering215

Materials Science1198

Mechanical Engineering1105

Metallurgical Engineering910

Mining Engineering174

Nanotechnology643

Nuclear Engineering196

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1060

Petroleum Engineering256

Polymer science and Plastics engineering210

Product and Industrial Design222

Reliability and Quality Engineering321

Remote Sensing399

Renewable Energy Engineering273

Robotics269

Structural Engineering696

Technical Drawing194

Telecommunications859

Transportation Engineering319