Systems designer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a systems designer. Systems designers usually study electrical engineering, computer science, or business. 60% of systems designers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,726 real systems designer resumes to see exactly what systems designer education sections show.

The most common colleges for systems designers are the Arizona State University and the Arizona State University.

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

What education do you need to become a systems designer?

What degree do you need to be a systems designer?

The most common degree for systems designers is bachelor's degree, with 60% of systems designers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 13%.

Bachelor's, 60%

Associate, 19%

Master's, 13%

High School Diploma, 4%

Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a systems designer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a systems designer. 19% of systems designers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a systems designer include computer science and business.

Electrical Engineering, 19%

Computer Science, 13%

Business, 11%

Drafting And Design, 10%

Other Majors, 47%

Most common colleges for systems designers

Systems designers often get their degrees at Arizona State University, University of Phoenix, and University of Houston. Here are the most common colleges for systems designers in the US based on their resumes.

Systems designer common college	Percentages
Arizona State University	6.86%
University of Phoenix	6.86%
University of Houston	6.29%
Purdue University	6.29%
University of Florida	6.29%

Show more common systems designer colleges

Best majors for systems designers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Electrical Engineering	18.6%
2	Computer Science	13.4%
3	Business	11.3%
4	Drafting And Design	10.0%
5	Mechanical Engineering	9.8%

Show more common systems designer majors

Best colleges for systems designers

The best colleges for systems designers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A systems designer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for systems designers. 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 systems designers.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

6. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

9. Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,646

Enrollment

5,736

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

20 best online courses for systems designers

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1. Rocking System Design

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2. 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...

3. Pragmatic System Design

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Master System Design Interviews: Learn Practical Approaches and Boost Your Career...

4. Mastering the System Design Interview

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Insider tips for your system design interview from a former Amazon hiring manager – plus 6 mock interviews for practice!...

5. System Design Interview Guide for Software Architecture

4.6

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Mastering High Level System Design Interview Software Architecture case studies Design patterns Microservices...

6. BMS - Building management system

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BMS, building management system & building automation systems study , design and calculations...

7. Fundamentals of Unix and Linux System Administration

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

8. Essential Tools for Windows System Administrators

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9. 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...

10. Electrical Low Voltage System Distribution Design

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Design of Power & Lighting Distribution System using Auto CAD, DIALux, & Low Voltage Calculations Using Excel Sheets...

11. Complete Microsoft SQL Server Database Design Masterclass

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12. 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...

13. Low Level System Design [An interview perspective]

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Ace the Low Level Design interview by solving problems asked in the System Design round of programming interviews...

14. Database Management System (DBMS) & SQL: Complete Pack-2023

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Database Engineering (RDBMS) : ER model,FD's,Normalization,SQL,ACID,Transactions & Concurrency Control, Indexing & more...

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16. Construction Site Electrical System Design

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Learn how to design a safe, flexible and durable electrical system for any construction site...

17. Systems Innovation

4.5

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Learn systems innovation - the new systems-based approach to enabling transformative change within complex organizations...

18. Control Systems Made Simple Beginner's Guide

4.4

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Learn fundamentals of Mechanical & electrical system modeling, simulation and control with this unique practical course!...

19. SOLAR ENERGY Design Course(With SketchUp & PVSYST)-PV system

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PV system/Solar Energy deisgn Course. Components, Site survey, Design, SOFTWARES,Pricing ,Technical & finanical Reports...

20. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

4.2

(791)

Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for systems designers

The most affordable schools for systems designers are California State University - Long Beach, california state university - bakersfield, and university of florida.

If the best universities for systems designers 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 systems designers.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for systems designers

The hardest universities for systems designers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for systems designers 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 systems designers 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

9. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for systems designers

The easiest schools for systems designers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, oregon institute of technology, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a systems designer 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 systems designers.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

5. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

6. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

7. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

8. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

9. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

10. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

Average systems designer salary by education level

Systems designers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $112,007 annually. With a Master's degree, systems designers earn a median annual income of $103,895 compared to $92,535 for systems designers with an Bachelor's degree.

Systems designer education level	Systems designer salary
Master's Degree	$103,895
Bachelor's Degree	$92,535
Doctorate Degree	$112,007

Systems designer education FAQs

What is the best college for Systems Designers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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