U.S. median for this major: $114,815.
College Scorecard field of study; 21 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 17% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $88,488. College Scorecard.
Washington University in St Louis Systems Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Missouri colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Systems Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Washington University in St Louis's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $1,716 | $7,018 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $1,928 | $7,886 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $5,578 | $22,814 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $12,603 | $51,546 | under 1 year |
| $110k+ | $42,170 | $172,475 | 2.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (87% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Systems Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($119,297) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $83,859 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Careers for Systems Engineering graduates
Industrial Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +12.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Database Architects
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +9.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Washington University in St Louis, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Washington University in St Louis
- Acceptance rate: 12% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 94% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $86,182
- Full cost breakdown · all 88 majors · overview
Related majors at Washington University in St Louis
- Electrical Engineering—
- Computer Engineering—
- Engineering—
- Chemical Engineering$107,843
Washington University in St Louis Systems Engineering questions
How much do Washington University in St Louis Systems Engineering graduates earn?
Systems Engineering graduates of Washington University in St Louis earn a median $119,297 four years after graduating and $83,874 one year after. The U.S. median for Systems Engineering graduates across 11 colleges is $114,815.
How much debt do Washington University in St Louis Systems Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Systems Engineering graduates of Washington University in St Louis is $20,500, about 17% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,000.
Where does Washington University in St Louis rank for Systems Engineering in Missouri?
Of 1 Missouri colleges reporting Systems Engineering graduate earnings, Washington University in St Louis ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Systems Engineering graduates get?
A common career is industrial engineers, with a median wage of $102,230 in the St. Louis, MO-IL area and $102,440 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and database architects.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Washington University in St Louis Systems Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis/majors/systems-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).