Systems Engineering: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 27 reporting college programs.
$144,307 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Massachusetts Institute of Technology$227,0522University of Southern California$178,6193Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus$168,4074Southern Methodist University$163,7695Johns Hopkins University$154,7756George Washington University$154,7677University of Virginia-Main Campus$152,8548University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$152,3539Florida Institute of Technology$149,29110Missouri University of Science and Technology$145,788Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $227,052 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,111 |
| 2 | University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $178,619 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,740 |
| 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $168,407 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,116 |
| 4 | Southern Methodist UniversityMaster's Degree | Dallas, TX | $163,769 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,892 |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $154,775 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 6 | George Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $154,767 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,586 |
| 7 | University of Virginia-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $152,854 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,565 |
| 8 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMaster's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $152,353 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,138 |
| 9 | Florida Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Melbourne, FL | $149,291 | Not available | Baseline needed | $35,639 |
| 10 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMaster's Degree | Rolla, MO | $145,788 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,298 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great ValleyMaster's Degree | Malvern, PA | $145,507 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | University Park, PA | $145,507 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,875 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusMaster's Degree | University Park, PA | $145,507 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,550 |
| 14 | The University of Texas at DallasMaster's Degree | Richardson, TX | $144,307 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,267 |
| 15 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMaster's Degree | Worcester, MA | $143,717 | Not available | Baseline needed | $43,071 |
| 16 | Cornell UniversityMaster's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $142,846 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,690 |
| 17 | University of Maryland Global CampusMaster's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $141,618 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,063 |
| 18 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Hoboken, NJ | $137,935 | Not available | Baseline needed | $41,346 |
| 19 | University of FloridaMaster's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $137,191 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,541 |
| 20 | George Mason UniversityMaster's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $135,210 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,915 |
| 21 | University of ArizonaMaster's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $129,471 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,674 |
| 22 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachMaster's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $125,093 | Not available | Baseline needed | $41,272 |
| 23 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideMaster's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $125,093 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,725 |
| 24 | Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $117,700 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,915 |
| 25 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $117,700 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 26 | The University of Texas at El PasoMaster's Degree | El Paso, TX | $113,173 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,403 |
| 27 | Kennesaw State UniversityMaster's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $108,404 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,048 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.