100 Best Systems Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 11.1M citations received by 361K academic papers made by 522 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: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Systems Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Systems Engineering

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Systems Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
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: 45%
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

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

8. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Systems Engineering

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

9. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Systems Engineering

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

10. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Systems Engineering

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

11. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Systems Engineering

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

12. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Systems Engineering

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

13. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Systems Engineering

#14 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Systems Engineering

#15 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

15. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Systems Engineering

#16 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

16. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Systems Engineering

#17 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

17. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Systems Engineering

#18 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Systems Engineering

#19 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

19. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Systems Engineering

#21 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

20. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Systems Engineering

#23 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

21. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Systems Engineering

#24 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Systems Engineering

#25 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

23. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Systems Engineering

#26 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

24. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Systems Engineering

#27 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

25. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Systems Engineering

#28 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

26. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Systems Engineering

#29 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Systems Engineering

#30 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

28. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Systems Engineering

#31 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

29. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Systems Engineering

#34 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Systems Engineering

#35 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

31. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Systems Engineering

#36 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

32. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Systems Engineering

#37 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

33. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Systems Engineering

#38 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

34. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Systems Engineering

#39 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

35. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Systems Engineering

#40 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

36. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Systems Engineering

#41 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

37. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Systems Engineering

#42 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

38. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Systems Engineering

#43 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

39. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Systems Engineering

#45 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

40. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Systems Engineering

#46 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

41. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Systems Engineering

#47 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

42. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Systems Engineering

#48 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

43. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Systems Engineering

#49 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

44. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Systems Engineering

#50 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

45. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Systems Engineering

#51 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

46. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Systems Engineering

#52 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

47. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Systems Engineering

#55 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

48. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Systems Engineering

#56 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

49. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Systems Engineering

#59 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

50. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Systems Engineering

#60 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

51. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Systems Engineering

#61 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

52. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Systems Engineering

#62 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

53. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Systems Engineering

#64 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

54. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Systems Engineering

#65 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

55. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Systems Engineering

#66 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

56. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Systems Engineering

#67 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

57. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Systems Engineering

#68 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

58. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Systems Engineering

#69 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

59. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#70 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

60. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Systems Engineering

#71 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

61. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Systems Engineering

#72 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

62. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Systems Engineering

#76 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

63. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Systems Engineering

#77 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

64. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Systems Engineering

#78 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

65. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Systems Engineering

#79 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

66. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Systems Engineering

#80 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

67. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Systems Engineering

#81 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Systems Engineering

#82 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

69. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Systems Engineering

#84 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

70. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Systems Engineering

#85 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

71. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Systems Engineering

#87 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

72. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Systems Engineering

#89 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

73. Wright State University

Ohio | Dayton

For Systems Engineering

#90 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1041
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 94%

74. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Systems Engineering

#91 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

75. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Systems Engineering

#92 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

76. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Systems Engineering

#93 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

77. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Systems Engineering

#94 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

78. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Systems Engineering

#95 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

79. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Systems Engineering

#96 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

80. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Systems Engineering

#97 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

81. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Systems Engineering

#98 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

82. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Systems Engineering

#100 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

83. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Systems Engineering

#101 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

84. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Systems Engineering

#102 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

85. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Systems Engineering

#103 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

86. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Systems Engineering

#104 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

87. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Systems Engineering

#105 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

88. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#106 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

89. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Systems Engineering

#107 in North America

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

90. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Systems Engineering

#108 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

91. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Systems Engineering

#109 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

92. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Systems Engineering

#110 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

93. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Systems Engineering

#111 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

94. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Systems Engineering

#112 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

95. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Systems Engineering

#113 in North America

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 75%

96. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Systems Engineering

#114 in North America

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

97. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Systems Engineering

#115 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

98. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Systems Engineering

#116 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

99. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Systems Engineering

#117 in North America

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

100. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Systems Engineering

#119 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1272
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

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.