Systems engineering is an expressly unique field. While most engineers design a physical item, systems engineers design a process. Choose one of the cheapest online systems engineering master’s degrees from the list below to start on your path to this innovative and technical career.
Other types of engineering deal with designing and creating infrastructure, products, and even software, but this type deals with the planning and development of organizational systems. Systems engineers apply their knowledge to the planning and design phase of a project, helping to make a system that is faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective, while still delivering a high-quality result.
People from a variety of backgrounds can enter an online systems engineering master’s degree. While engineering knowledge is essential, people with management and administration experience may also qualify for these degrees.
We have found 58 master’s in system engineering programs from 49 accredited institutions. With a range of prices, online learners have plenty of options for their exact needs.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$35,400
Least Expensive In-state: North Carolina A & T State University ~$7,570
Least Expensive Out-of-state: Kennesaw State University ~$11,710
With nearly 60 options, there’s sure to be an online systems engineering program to fit your needs. Scroll down to browse the top options. Then, learn more about accreditation, admissions, licensing, and the career outlook for systems engineers.
31 Cheapest Online Systems Engineering Master’s Degrees
Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | North Carolina A & T State University | (NC) | $7,570.00 $26,380.00 $7,570.00 | In-State Out-of-State Military |
2 | University of Central Florida | (FL) | $9,820.00 $34,552.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | Kennesaw State University | (GA) | $11,710.00 | All Students |
4 | Florida State University | (FL) | $14,228.00 $21,024.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | (LA) | $14,400.00 | All Students |
6 | Bowling Green State University | (OH) | $15,046.00 $15,376.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | University of Florida | (FL) | $16,451.00 $38,918.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Northern Illinois University | (IL) | $16,650.00 | All Students |
9 | Mississippi State University | (MS) | $16,860.00 | All Students |
10 | California State University-Dominguez Hills | (CA) | $18,003.00 | All Students |
11 | Old Dominion University | (VA) | $19,551.00 $20,295.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 | Capitol Technology University | (MD) | $20,220.00 $11,820.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
13 | The University of Texas at El Paso | (TX) | $23,460.00 | All Students |
14 | Texas Tech University | (TX) | $23,587.00 $22,087.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | (FL) | $24,330.00 | All Students |
16 | University of Virginia | (VA) | $24,390.00 $45,270.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
17 | Iowa State University | (IA) | $24,612.00 | All Students |
18 | George Mason University | (VA) | $25,470.00 $49,305.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
19 | University of North Dakota | (ND) | $26,085.00 | All Students |
20 | University of Colorado - Colorado Springs | (CO) | $27,495.00 $31,091.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
21 | Oakland University | (MI) | $27,888.00 | All Students |
22 | Oregon Institute of Technology | (OR) | $29,410.00 | All Students |
23 | University of Oklahoma | (OK) | $29,550.00 | All Students |
24 | Clemson University | (SC) | $30,832.00 | All Students |
25 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | (VA) | $30,845.00 $58,270.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
26 | Auburn University | (AL) | $31,357.00 | All Students |
27 | University of Michigan - Dearborn | (MI) | $34,070.00 $56,000.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
28 | Purdue University | (IN) | $34,170.00 $43,770.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
29 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | (NJ) | $34,290.00 | All Students |
30 | University of Arizona | (AZ) | $34,470.00 | All Students |
31 | Colorado State University | (CO) | $34,688.00 | All Students |
School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Missouri University of Science and Technology | (MO) | $36,000.00 $23,850.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | (IL) | $36,384.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $36,612.00 | All Students | |
Southern Methodist University | (TX) | $40,500.00 $20,250.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Georgia Institute of Technology | (GA) | $41,370.00 | All Students | |
The George Washington University | (DC) | $42,003.00 | All Students | |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | (MI) | $45,751.00 $50,131.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Lehigh University | (PA) | $46,350.00 | All Students | |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute | (MA) | $48,300.00 | All Students | |
Johns Hopkins University | (MD) | $55,800.00 | All Students | |
Northeastern University | (MA) | $57,632.00 | All Students | |
Stevens Institute of Technology | (NJ) | $59,940.00 | All Students | |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | (CT) | $60,300.00 | All Students | |
Drexel University | (PA) | $60,640.00 $54,601.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $65,944.00 | All Students | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $68,368.00 | All Students | |
Columbia University in the City of New York | (NY) | $77,915.00 | All Students | |
Case Western Reserve University | (OH) | $78,064.00 | All Students |
Methodology for These Rankings
These rankings of online master’s in systems engineering programs are based on our fall 2023 review of degrees. In order to calculate the total cost, we use a variety of factors including minimum required credit hours, tuition rates, and general fees. At the time of collection, the information was valid and specific to the individual program. Profiles for the same degrees found in the directory on our site may, on occasion, reflect a different cost based on editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated total price for the entire degree, but actual costs will vary by student. For example, if you have transfer credits, your cost may be lower. Prerequisite courses, textbook fees, licensing requirements, financial aid, and numerous other factors can impact the price of an affordable online systems engineering degree.
We strive to create the most honest, accurate ranking system possible. Therefore, we do not accept payments from schools to be included or removed from our rankings. The rankings are open to any regionally-accredited public or nonprofit college or university that offers an online master’s in systems engineering. We do not include degrees from non-accredited, nationally-accredited, or for-profit schools in our rankings. We also exclude from our rankings degrees that are available less than 80% online and those that are only available to students in five states or fewer.
Program Note: In order to qualify for a ranking, the online master’s in systems engineering must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table. Degrees labeled with superscript 14 indicate that options for this program have changed since publication.