100 Best Systems Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 16.4M citations received by 415K academic papers made by 555 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: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Systems Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

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: $25,078

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Systems Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Systems Engineering

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Systems Engineering

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

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

8. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Systems Engineering

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Systems Engineering

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

10. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Systems Engineering

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

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

11. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Systems Engineering

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

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

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Systems Engineering

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

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

13. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Systems Engineering

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

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

14. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Systems Engineering

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

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

15. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Systems Engineering

#16 in North America

#24 in the World

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

16. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Systems Engineering

#17 in North America

#31 in the World

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

17. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Systems Engineering

#18 in North America

#32 in the World

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

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Systems Engineering

#19 in North America

#33 in the World

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

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Systems Engineering

#21 in North America

#39 in the World

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

20. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Systems Engineering

#22 in North America

#40 in the World

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

21. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Systems Engineering

#24 in North America

#42 in the World

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

22. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Systems Engineering

#25 in North America

#43 in the World

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

23. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Systems Engineering

#26 in North America

#46 in the World

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

24. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Systems Engineering

#27 in North America

#47 in the World

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

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Systems Engineering

#28 in North America

#50 in the World

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

26. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Systems Engineering

#29 in North America

#52 in the World

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

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Systems Engineering

#30 in North America

#55 in the World

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

28. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Systems Engineering

#33 in North America

#61 in the World

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

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Systems Engineering

#34 in North America

#62 in the World

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

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Systems Engineering

#35 in North America

#64 in the World

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

31. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Systems Engineering

#36 in North America

#65 in the World

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

32. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Systems Engineering

#37 in North America

#66 in the World

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

33. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Systems Engineering

#38 in North America

#74 in the World

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

34. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Systems Engineering

#39 in North America

#78 in the World

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

35. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Systems Engineering

#40 in North America

#79 in the World

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

36. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Systems Engineering

#41 in North America

#81 in the World

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

37. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Systems Engineering

#42 in North America

#82 in the World

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

38. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Systems Engineering

#43 in North America

#87 in the World

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

39. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Systems Engineering

#44 in North America

#88 in the World

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

40. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Systems Engineering

#46 in North America

#90 in the World

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

41. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Systems Engineering

#47 in North America

#100 in the World

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

42. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Systems Engineering

#49 in North America

#104 in the World

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

43. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Systems Engineering

#50 in North America

#105 in the World

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

44. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Systems Engineering

#51 in North America

#107 in the World

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

45. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Systems Engineering

#52 in North America

#111 in the World

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

46. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Systems Engineering

#55 in North America

#121 in the World

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

47. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Systems Engineering

#56 in North America

#123 in the World

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

48. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Systems Engineering

#57 in North America

#124 in the World

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

49. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Systems Engineering

#58 in North America

#125 in the World

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

50. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Systems Engineering

#60 in North America

#134 in the World

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

51. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Systems Engineering

#62 in North America

#139 in the World

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

52. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Systems Engineering

#64 in North America

#148 in the World

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

53. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Systems Engineering

#65 in North America

#153 in the World

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

54. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Systems Engineering

#66 in North America

#162 in the World

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

55. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Systems Engineering

#67 in North America

#170 in the World

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

56. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Systems Engineering

#68 in North America

#171 in the World

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

57. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Systems Engineering

#69 in North America

#173 in the World

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

58. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Systems Engineering

#70 in North America

#175 in the World

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

59. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#71 in North America

#187 in the World

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

60. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Systems Engineering

#73 in North America

#190 in the World

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

61. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Systems Engineering

#74 in North America

#195 in the World

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

62. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Systems Engineering

#75 in North America

#197 in the World

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

63. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Systems Engineering

#77 in North America

#216 in the World

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

64. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Systems Engineering

#78 in North America

#219 in the World

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

65. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Systems Engineering

#79 in North America

#220 in the World

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

66. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Systems Engineering

#80 in North America

#222 in the World

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

67. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Systems Engineering

#82 in North America

#237 in the World

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

68. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Systems Engineering

#83 in North America

#243 in the World

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

69. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Systems Engineering

#85 in North America

#251 in the World

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

70. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Systems Engineering

#86 in North America

#253 in the World

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

71. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Systems Engineering

#88 in North America

#256 in the World

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

72. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Systems Engineering

#89 in North America

#257 in the World

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

73. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Systems Engineering

#90 in North America

#258 in the World

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

74. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Systems Engineering

#91 in North America

#259 in the World

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

75. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Systems Engineering

#92 in North America

#261 in the World

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

76. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Systems Engineering

#93 in North America

#265 in the World

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

77. Wright State University

Ohio | Dayton

For Systems Engineering

#94 in North America

#266 in the World

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

78. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Systems Engineering

#95 in North America

#270 in the World

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

79. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Systems Engineering

#96 in North America

#271 in the World

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

80. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Systems Engineering

#97 in North America

#275 in the World

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

81. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Systems Engineering

#98 in North America

#286 in the World

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

82. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Systems Engineering

#99 in North America

#290 in the World

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

83. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Systems Engineering

#100 in North America

#297 in the World

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

84. Florida Atlantic University

Florida | Boca Raton

For Systems Engineering

#101 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#102 in North America

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

86. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Systems Engineering

#103 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

87. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Systems Engineering

#104 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

88. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#106 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

89. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Systems Engineering

#107 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

90. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Systems Engineering

#108 in North America

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

91. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Systems Engineering

#109 in North America

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#110 in North America

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

93. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Systems Engineering

#111 in North America

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

94. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Systems Engineering

#112 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Systems Engineering

#113 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

96. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Systems Engineering

#114 in North America

#332 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

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

98. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Systems Engineering

#117 in North America

#354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Systems Engineering

#118 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Systems Engineering

#120 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

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.