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Systems Engineering at University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
73
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $76,660/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (57,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.5x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #4 of 11 Systems Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Systems Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $941K $898K $742K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.3x 16.5x 13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.5x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 73 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,504
Out-of-state: $164,380 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$63,840
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,500
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$103,877
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Arizona's Systems Engineering program produces graduates earning $76,660/yr — within striking distance of the $75,193 national average for this field.

The 16.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,500 in median debt clears quickly against $76,660 in annual earnings.

Ranked #4 out of 11 programs, University of Arizona's Systems Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $76,660 to $103,877 shows 36% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Arizona

A 86% acceptance rate means University of Arizona is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 40,769 in Tucson, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arizona →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 11 schools offering Systems Engineering →

Systems Engineering at Other Schools

University of Virginia-Main Campus ($91,178) University of Florida ($85,698) George Mason University ($84,942) Washington University in St Louis ($83,874) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($81,785) Massachusetts Maritime Academy ($79,942) University of North Carolina at Charlotte ($68,034) Otterbein University ($63,243)

Other Majors at University of Arizona

Mining and Mineral Engineering ($86,924) Computer Science ($86,040) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,864) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($78,168) Mechanical Engineering ($75,211) Engineering-Related Fields ($75,109) Chemical Engineering ($73,479) Industrial Engineering ($72,440)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Arizona's Systems Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Arizona's Systems Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →