by our College Data Analytics Team
[Systems Engineering](/majors/engineering/systems-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for systems engineering students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the systems engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked United States Merchant Marine Academy the best value for a degree in systems engineering in New York. Set in the suburb of Kings Point, United States Merchant Marine Academy is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $895. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from United States Merchant Marine Academy generally make around $69,847. The acceptance rate is 34%.
Students looking for strong value in systems engineering will find it at Cornell University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Systems Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Systems Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $117,455 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned it the #3 place for systems engineering. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,975 to complete the systems engineering program here. Soon after graduation, systems engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $77,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about 64% of applicants.
1
2
3
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.