100 Best Systems Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Systems Engineering. A graph of 15.7M citations received by 407K academic papers made by 548 universities in the United States 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

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Systems Engineering

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Systems Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Systems Engineering

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Systems Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Systems Engineering

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Systems Engineering

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

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

8. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Systems Engineering

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Systems Engineering

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

10. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Systems Engineering

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

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

11. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Systems Engineering

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

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

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Systems Engineering

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Systems Engineering

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Systems Engineering

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Systems Engineering

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

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

16. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Systems Engineering

#17 in North America

#30 in the World

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

17. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Systems Engineering

#18 in North America

#31 in the World

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

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Systems Engineering

#19 in North America

#32 in the World

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

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Systems Engineering

#20 in North America

#35 in the World

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

20. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Systems Engineering

#21 in North America

#36 in the World

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

21. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Systems Engineering

#22 in North America

#37 in the World

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

22. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Systems Engineering

#25 in North America

#41 in the World

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

23. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Systems Engineering

#26 in North America

#45 in the World

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

24. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Systems Engineering

#27 in North America

#46 in the World

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

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Systems Engineering

#28 in North America

#47 in the World

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

26. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Systems Engineering

#29 in North America

#48 in the World

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

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Systems Engineering

#30 in North America

#51 in the World

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

28. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Systems Engineering

#32 in North America

#59 in the World

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

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Systems Engineering

#34 in North America

#61 in the World

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

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Systems Engineering

#35 in North America

#62 in the World

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

31. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Systems Engineering

#36 in North America

#63 in the World

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

32. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Systems Engineering

#37 in North America

#65 in the World

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

33. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Systems Engineering

#38 in North America

#69 in the World

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

34. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Systems Engineering

#39 in North America

#74 in the World

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

35. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Systems Engineering

#40 in North America

#76 in the World

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

36. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Systems Engineering

#41 in North America

#77 in the World

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

37. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Systems Engineering

#42 in North America

#79 in the World

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

38. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Systems Engineering

#43 in North America

#85 in the World

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

39. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Systems Engineering

#44 in North America

#86 in the World

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

40. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Systems Engineering

#45 in North America

#87 in the World

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

41. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Systems Engineering

#47 in North America

#96 in the World

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

42. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Systems Engineering

#48 in North America

#98 in the World

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

43. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Systems Engineering

#50 in North America

#104 in the World

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

44. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Systems Engineering

#51 in North America

#105 in the World

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

45. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Systems Engineering

#52 in North America

#107 in the World

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

46. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Systems Engineering

#55 in North America

#115 in the World

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

47. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Systems Engineering

#56 in North America

#116 in the World

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

48. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Systems Engineering

#57 in North America

#117 in the World

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

49. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Systems Engineering

#58 in North America

#121 in the World

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

50. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Systems Engineering

#60 in North America

#128 in the World

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

51. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Systems Engineering

#61 in North America

#133 in the World

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

52. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Systems Engineering

#64 in North America

#143 in the World

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

53. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Systems Engineering

#65 in North America

#147 in the World

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

54. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Systems Engineering

#66 in North America

#153 in the World

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

55. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Systems Engineering

#67 in North America

#163 in the World

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

56. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Systems Engineering

#68 in North America

#169 in the World

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

57. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Systems Engineering

#69 in North America

#170 in the World

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

58. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Systems Engineering

#70 in North America

#171 in the World

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

59. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#72 in North America

#179 in the World

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

60. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Systems Engineering

#73 in North America

#183 in the World

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

61. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Systems Engineering

#74 in North America

#185 in the World

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

62. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Systems Engineering

#75 in North America

#186 in the World

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

63. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Systems Engineering

#77 in North America

#210 in the World

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

64. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Systems Engineering

#78 in North America

#213 in the World

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

65. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Systems Engineering

#79 in North America

#215 in the World

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

66. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Systems Engineering

#80 in North America

#217 in the World

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

67. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Systems Engineering

#81 in North America

#225 in the World

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

68. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Systems Engineering

#84 in North America

#238 in the World

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

69. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Systems Engineering

#85 in North America

#240 in the World

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

70. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Systems Engineering

#87 in North America

#246 in the World

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

71. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Systems Engineering

#88 in North America

#247 in the World

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

72. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Systems Engineering

#89 in North America

#248 in the World

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

73. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Systems Engineering

#90 in North America

#249 in the World

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

74. Wright State University

Ohio | Dayton

For Systems Engineering

#91 in North America

#251 in the World

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

75. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Systems Engineering

#92 in North America

#252 in the World

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

76. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Systems Engineering

#93 in North America

#254 in the World

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

77. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Systems Engineering

#94 in North America

#257 in the World

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

78. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Systems Engineering

#95 in North America

#264 in the World

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

79. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Systems Engineering

#96 in North America

#270 in the World

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

80. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Systems Engineering

#97 in North America

#277 in the World

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

81. Florida Atlantic University

Florida | Boca Raton

For Systems Engineering

#98 in North America

#279 in the World

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

82. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Systems Engineering

#99 in North America

#281 in the World

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

83. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Systems Engineering

#100 in North America

#284 in the World

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

84. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Systems Engineering

#101 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#102 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

86. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Systems Engineering

#103 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

87. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Systems Engineering

#104 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

88. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Systems Engineering

#105 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

89. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#107 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

90. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Systems Engineering

#108 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

91. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Systems Engineering

#109 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

92. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Systems Engineering

#110 in North America

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

93. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#111 in North America

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

94. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Systems Engineering

#112 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

95. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Systems Engineering

#113 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

96. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Systems Engineering

#114 in North America

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

97. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Systems Engineering

#115 in North America

#330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

98. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Systems Engineering

#117 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

99. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Systems Engineering

#118 in North America

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Southern Methodist University

Texas | Dallas

For Systems Engineering

#119 in North America

#359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,792

The best cities to study Systems Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Pittsburgh, Cambridge, Stanford, and Berkeley.