Systems Engineering at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
73
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,034/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (57,100 openings/yr)
ROI 27.3x earnings multiple (9.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 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 $820K $788K $668K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 28.4x 27.3x 23.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.4x 9.0x 7.6x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 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)
$28,856
Out-of-state: $87,504 (9.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,980
-104% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,128
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $68,034 track close to the $75,193 national median for Systems Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 27.3x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $26,000 in median debt against $68,034 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #5 out of 11 programs, University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Systems Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $68,034 to $89,128 shows 31% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Charlotte has a 80% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 23,567 students enrolled in Charlotte, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Charlotte →

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

Systems Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Systems Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of North Carolina at Charlotte'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 →