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Engineering · Systems Engineering Rank #11 of 11

Systems Engineeringat Otterbein University

Graduates earn $63,243/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national Systems Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $647K; scenarios range from $572K to $663K depending on AI disruption.

Westerville, OH Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
49 AVERAGE
50
Optimistic
45
Pessimistic
Earnings
$63,243
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$647K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Otterbein University

Otterbein's Systems Engineering program offers a distinct pathway in a specialized field. Its position in the Ohio market means graduates often find opportunities within the region's strong manufacturing base, including automotive, aerospace components, and general industrial sectors, as well as some government contracting in the broader Midwest. This regional focus, while providing excellent local employment, can lead to a different salary landscape compared to graduates from programs situated in major coastal tech or defense hubs, influencing overall earnings comparisons. Given the field's "Very High" AI risk, your curriculum and early career choices will be crucial. Focus on developing strong human-centric skills like complex problem-solving, stakeholder communication, and ethical system design. These competencies will be invaluable as AI automates more routine technical tasks, positioning you to manage and innovate with these new tools.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$572K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple4.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$647K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple4.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$663K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple4.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Otterbein University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Systems Engineering graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Database architects
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 4,000 openings/yr
$135,980/yr
Very High
3
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
4
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
5
Industrial engineers
+11.0% 10-yr growth · 25,200 openings/yr
$101,140/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Systems Engineering

How Otterbein University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Virginia-Main Campus
VA · Public
74
DW Score
$91K
1-yr earn
14.6x
ROI
Top score
University of Florida
FL · Public
77
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
41.3x
ROI
George Mason University
VA · Public
76
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
20.9x
ROI
Washington University in St Louis
MO · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$84K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IL · Public
59
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
11.8x
ROI
Also at Otterbein University

Other top programs at Otterbein University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Otterbein University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Systems Engineering at Otterbein University

How does Otterbein University's Systems Engineering program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Systems Engineering. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Systems Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Systems Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Systems Engineering earnings lower at Otterbein University?

Lower starting pay at Otterbein University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.