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Manager, systems engineering education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a manager, systems engineering. Managers, systems engineering usually study electrical engineering, computer science, or business. 70% of managers, systems engineering hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 3,349 real manager, systems engineering resumes to see exactly what manager, systems engineering education sections show.

The most common colleges for managers, systems engineering are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online manager, systems engineering courses to help get the education required to be a manager, systems engineering.

There are certain manager, systems engineering certifications that you should consider. These manager, systems engineering certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL).

What education do you need to become a manager, systems engineering?

What degree do you need to be a manager, systems engineering?

The most common degree for managers, systems engineering is bachelor's degree, with 70% of managers, systems engineering earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 16% and master's degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 70%
  • Master's, 16%
  • Associate, 11%
  • Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a manager, systems engineering?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a manager, systems engineering. 23% of managers, systems engineering major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a manager, systems engineering include computer science and business.

Most common colleges for managers, systems engineering

Managers, systems engineering often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Maryland - College Park, and Pennsylvania State University. Here are the most common colleges for managers, systems engineering in the US based on their resumes.
Manager, systems engineering common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix14.32%
University of Maryland - College Park9.73%
Pennsylvania State University6.49%
George Washington University, The6.49%
Texas A&M University5.68%

Best majors for managers, systems engineering

Best colleges for managers, systems engineering

The best colleges for managers, systems engineering are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

A manager, systems engineering with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for managers, systems engineering. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become managers, systems engineering.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

4. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

6. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

20 best online courses for managers, systems engineering

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1. Introduction to Systems Engineering

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Introduction to Systems Engineering introduces you to the holistic and interdisciplinary systems engineering approach to designing, realizing, and managing complex systems. In this three-course specialization, you will learn how to evolve a project from idea to fielded hardware customized to meet customer requirements while effectively managing costs, timescales, and limiting risks. You will identify and define a system and its components, model a system life cycle, and apply systems...

2. The Need for Systems Engineering

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Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary approach to designing, realizing, and managing complex systems. In this course, you will be introduced to principles of systems engineering and its importance to the development of complex systems. You will learn to identify and define systems, manage their complexity, and describe their life cycle. The course uses real-world engineering examples to address how the systems engineering approach can address challenges. This course can be taken for...

3. Product Development & Systems Engineering

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4.6
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The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...

4. Requirements Engineering: Software Engineering

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4.4
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Everything you need to know about software requirements: elicitation, analysis, documentation, validation and management...

5. Engineering Project Management

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Master strategies and tools to more effectively and successfully manage projects.\n\nToday’s professional environment is highly competitive, continuously changing, and difficult to manage. Employees rarely reach positions of leadership without managing one or more projects or a project segment early in their career.\n\nBrought to you by the Rice Center of Engineering Leadership and team behind the engineering management master's program, the goal of this Specialization is to give you the tools...

6. Real-World Engineering Management

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Learn software engineering management using the same practices as Amazon Web Services (AWS), with comparisons to the practices at Google and Microsoft! Gain insights to impress on your first (or next) engineering manager (EM or SDM) role.\n\nLead instructor Nancy Wang, Director of Engineering and Product and General Manager of Data Protection Services at Amazon Web Services, shares the key business, technical, design, and leadership skills necessary for success at engineering manager roles at...

7. Railway Systems Engineering (Equivalent to Micro MSc )

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4.3
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A Journey in the World of Railway Systems Operation Rolling Stock Traction System Engineering Infrastructure...

8. Fundamentals of Unix and Linux System Administration

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Master Linux/Unix System administration through a practical and hands on approach...

9. IBM Data Engineering

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Prepare for a career in the high-growth field of data engineering. In this program, you’ll learn in-demand skills like Python, SQL, and Databases to get job-ready in less than 5 months.\n\nData engineering is building systems to gather data, process and organize raw data into usable information, and manage data. The work data engineers do provides the foundational information that data scientists and business intelligence (BI) analysts use to make recommendations and decisions.\n\nThis program...

10. Managing Major Engineering Projects

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Accelerate your career by improving your project management skills. This Specialization delivers a rigorous exploration of the best practices for planning and delivering these major engineering projects. You’ll learn about the measures of success, how to resolve challenges of governance and typical financing approaches of these projects.\n\nIf you are an engineer or a project manager and you aspire to get involved with major engineering projects, or you are already working on one, then this...

11. [Active Directory] Management using Windows PowerShell

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[Power Shell] Simplified practical knowledge for automation & management of [Active Directory] using Windows Power Shell...

12. Learning Path: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager

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13. Software Architecture & System Design Practical Case Studies

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Design Real-life Large Scale Systems, Practice Modern Software Architecture & Prepare for a System Design Interview...

14. Software Architecture & Design of Modern Large Scale Systems

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Become a Software Architect or Technical Lead by Mastering Software Architecture, System Design & Big Data Processing...

15. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Systems and Avionics

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Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Systems of Airplanes - Hydraulics, Avionics, Electric, Propulsion...

16. Certificate Program In Management Information Systems

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Learn about the exciting world of Management Information Systems and its impact on the way organisations now function...

17. From Engineer to Technical Manager: A Survival Guide

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New manager training for engineers - smooth the transition from individual contributor to manager or team lead...

18. Unreal Engine 5: Soulslike Melee Combat System

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Make a complete third person souls-like action RPG melee combat system in Unreal Engine 5!...

19. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems

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Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...

20. Unreal Engine: Character Skill System

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4.3
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Master the tools used to build Fortnite as we craft our very own character skill system using the Unreal Engine!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for managers, systems engineering

The most affordable schools for managers, systems engineering are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - los angeles, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for managers, systems engineering are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for managers, systems engineering.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

6. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for managers, systems engineering

The hardest universities for managers, systems engineering to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for managers, systems engineering are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for managers, systems engineering based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for managers, systems engineering

The easiest schools for managers, systems engineering to get into are Capitol Technology University, barry university, and ottawa university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a manager, systems engineering without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for managers, systems engineering.

1. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

4. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

5. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

7. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

8. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

9. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

10. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

Average manager, systems engineering salary by education level

Managers, systems engineering with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $144,407 annually. With a Master's degree, managers, systems engineering earn a median annual income of $141,797 compared to $133,856 for managers, systems engineering with an Bachelor's degree.
Manager, systems engineering education levelManager, systems engineering salary
Master's Degree$141,797
Bachelor's Degree$133,856
Doctorate Degree$144,407
Some College/ Associate Degree$113,999

Manager, systems engineering education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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