Cornell Systems Engineering
Cornell Systems Engineering is a graduate academic program within Cornell University's Duffield College of Engineering, offering M.Eng. (on-campus and distance learning), M.S., Ph.D., and professional certificates in systems engineering, serving both residential students and working professionals sponsored by 45+ corporate partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersIthaca, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Cornell Systems Engineering does
Cornell Systems Engineering is a graduate academic program within Cornell University's David A. Duffield College of Engineering, offering M.Eng. (both on-campus and distance learning), M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in systems engineering, alongside six professional certificates and three optional concentrations (Energy Systems, Health Systems Engineering, and SEMI Engineering). Founded in the 1964-65 academic year, the program originated as one of the earliest graduate systems engineering offerings in the United States and has historically placed three of the four systems engineering textbooks authored by its faculty.
The program serves two distinct student populations: residential on-campus students pursuing full-time graduate study, and working professionals enrolled in the distance learning M.Eng., which combines online coursework with required on-campus intensive weeks. The distance learning cohort has scaled to 263 students sponsored by 45+ corporate partners, with corporate sponsorships covering both tuition and facilitating post-graduation placement. Named corporate partners span aerospace and defense (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems), technology (Amazon), industrial (Siemens, Corning), medical device (Becton Dickinson), and consulting (Booz Allen Hamilton) sectors, indicating broad industry applicability of the curriculum. Outcomes data shows 100% employment at graduation for distance learning students with an average starting salary of $128,307, and 74% employment within 3-6 months of graduation for on-campus students with an average starting salary of $98,987.
The business model is tuition-based under Cornell's graduate engineering rate structure, with revenue flowing to the parent university rather than to a standalone entity. Coursework is cross-listed across Computer Science, Information Science, Mechanical Engineering, and other engineering departments. Notable programmatic differentiators include INCOSE ASEP/CSEP exam preparation integrated as a certificate, and an embedded Computational and Data Science certificate covering machine learning and optimization methods. The 11-employee headcount figure reflects program administration; the broader faculty draw and student enrollment make this a meaningful revenue-generating academic unit within Cornell, though specific program-level financials are not disclosed.
Cornell Systems Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cornell Systems Engineering
- Legal name
- Cornell University
- Website
- https://systemseng.cornell.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cornell Systems Engineering is a graduate academic program within Cornell University's Duffield College of Engineering, offering M.Eng. (on-campus and distance learning), M.S., Ph.D., and professional certificates in systems engineering, serving both residential students and working professionals sponsored by 45+ corporate partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cornell Systems Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education / Engineering Graduate Programs
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)
Keywords
Where Cornell Systems Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ithaca
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cornell Systems Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- M.Eng. Tuition: Graduate tuition revenue from M.Eng. degree programs. Distance learning and on-campus students pay Cornell University Engineering M.Eng. tuition rates on a per-credit-hour basis. The M.Eng. degree is self-funded with merit-based financial aid available.
- Professional Certificate Tuition: Non-degree professional certificate programs charged at the same M.Eng. tuition rate per credit hour. Certificates include Computational and Data Science, INCOSE ASEP/CSEP, Six Sigma, Systems Engineering Design, Systems Engineering Specialist, and Sustainable Energy Systems Transition.
- Corporate Training Partnerships: Corporate partner agreements where employers sponsor employees for degree programs. The program has active working agreements with 45+ companies including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, BAE Systems, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Professional Certificate per credit hour |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | M.Eng. Application Fee |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cornell Systems Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cornell Systems Engineering delivers graduate-level educational programs in systems engineering through Cornell University's David A. Duffield College of Engineering. The portfolio includes on-campus and hybrid distance learning Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degrees, research-focused M.S. and Ph.D. programs, an M.S./Ph.D. graduate minor, optional specialization pathways, and a suite of professional certificates (including INCOSE ASEP/CSEP, Six Sigma, and Sustainable Energy Systems Transition) for both matriculated students and non-degree working professionals.
Product overview
Cornell Systems Engineering is an academic program within the Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering offering a portfolio of graduate-level educational programs. The core offerings include the On-Campus M.Eng. in Systems Engineering and Distance Learning M.Eng. in Systems Engineering (designed for working professionals with intensive on-campus residencies), along with research-focused M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Students can specialize through optional pathways in Energy Systems, Health Systems Engineering, and Semiconductor/Manufacturing/Industrial (SEMI) Engineering. The program also offers professional certificates including Computational and Data Science, INCOSE ASEP/CSEP, Six Sigma, Systems Engineering Design, Systems Engineering Specialist, and Sustainable Energy Systems Transition (SEST), which are available both as standalone professional programs and as stackable certifications within the M.Eng. degree.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Distance Learning M.Eng. in Systems Engineering: A master's degree program designed for working professionals who want to earn their degree while continuing to work full-time, with on-campus intensive components.
- On-Campus M.Eng. in Systems Engineering
- Energy Systems M.Eng. Pathway
- Health Systems Engineering M.Eng. Pathway
- Semiconductor, Manufacturing, and Industrial (SEMI) Engineering M.Eng. Pathway
Products and services
- On-Campus M.Eng. in Systems Engineering A full-time, in-person Master of Engineering degree program focused on designing and implementing complex systems, preparing students for careers in systems engineering across aerospace, defense, technology, consulting, and manufacturing industries.
- Distance Learning M.Eng. in Systems Engineering A part-time professional Master of Engineering degree designed for working professionals who want to earn a Cornell master's without interrupting their careers. Features flexible asynchronous online coursework combined with required on-campus intensive weeks (SYSEN 5920 Fall Week and SYSEN 5940 Summer Week), with 263 students from 45 employer partners enrolled in 2024.
- M.S. in Systems A research-focused Master of Science degree program in Systems Engineering for students pursuing advanced academic research and scholarly work.
- Ph.D. in Systems Doctoral program preparing students for advanced research careers in Systems Engineering, focusing on groundbreaking scholarly contributions in model-based systems engineering and related fields.
- M.S. and Ph.D. Graduate Minor in Systems Engineering A graduate minor in Systems Engineering available to students enrolled in other M.S. or Ph.D. programs at Cornell, allowing cross-disciplinary credentialing.
- INCOSE ASEP/CSEP Certificate A professional certification preparation program that allows students to earn INCOSE ASEP or CSEP certification without taking the standalone knowledge exam, offered in partnership with INCOSE.
- Six Sigma Certificate A professional certificate preparing students for Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification, taught by instructors from the Six Sigma Council.
- Computational and Data Science Certificate A certificate offering foundational training in data analytics and computational informatics using machine learning, computing science, systems optimization, and data science principles; available for M.Eng. students only.
- Systems Engineering Design Certificate A professional certificate empowering professionals with systems engineering design skills, focusing on innovative solution development throughout the Vee-diagram design process.
- Systems Engineering Specialist Certificate A professional certificate providing in-demand systems engineering skills essential for all engineering professionals, with preparation for leadership roles in systems engineering.
- Sustainable Energy Systems Transition (SEST) Certificate A professional certificate providing in-depth knowledge and tools to address energy systems transition challenges, including renewable energy, low-carbon technologies, and climate policy. Comprises nine credits including SYSEN 5170, SYSEN 5240, SYSEN 5230, and one elective.
- Professional Systems Engineering Certificates Program A suite of professional certificate programs for non-degree seeking students and working professionals, including stackable certificates that can count toward the M.Eng. degree.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% employed at graduation; $128,307 average starting salary for distance learning graduates
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cornell Systems Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cornell Systems Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cornell Systems Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Lockheed MartincoreTop employer of Cornell Systems Engineering distance learning graduates. Corporate partner with employee degree sponsorship agreements enabling professionals to earn M.Eng. degrees while working.
- BoeingcoreTop employer of distance learning M.Eng. graduates. Boeing professionals participate in Cornell's distance learning systems engineering program through corporate partnership agreements.
- BAE SystemscoreCorporate partner with working distance-learning agreements enabling employees to earn Master of Engineering degrees in Systems Engineering.
- RaytheoncoreTop employer of distance learning M.Eng. graduates with corporate partnership for employee education programs.
- Northrop GrummancoreTop employer of both distance learning and on-campus M.Eng. graduates. Active corporate partner with employee degree programs.
- MITREmajorCorporate partner with working distance-learning agreements for employee degree programs in systems engineering.
- AmazonmajorTop employer of distance learning M.Eng. graduates. Amazon professionals participate in the program through corporate education partnerships.
- Booz Allen HamiltonmajorCorporate partner with employee degree agreements enabling professionals to earn systems engineering degrees while employed.
- CumminsmajorCorporate partner with distance learning agreements for employee education in systems engineering.
- General ElectricmajorTop employer of distance learning M.Eng. graduates with active corporate partnership for employee education.
- SRCminorCorporate partner participating in Cornell systems engineering distance learning program.
- Applied MaterialsminorCorporate partner with employee degree agreements for systems engineering education.
- Eaton CorporationminorCorporate partner enabling employees to pursue systems engineering degrees through distance learning.
- MoogminorCorporate partner with distance learning agreements for employee degree programs.
- GlobalFoundriesminorCorporate partner participating in systems engineering distance learning program for employees.
- Blue OriginmajorTop employer of distance learning M.Eng. graduates with corporate education partnerships.
- General MotorsminorCorporate partner with employee degree sponsorship agreements for systems engineering education.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cornell Systems Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- UC Berkeley Industrial Engineering & Operations Research: Berkeley's IEOR department offers graduate programs with systems optimization and engineering management content that overlaps with Cornell's curriculum. It is a broad incumbent in graduate engineering education with strong employer pipelines in tech and consulting.
- MIT Professional Education: MIT Professional Education offers short courses, professional certificates, and advanced programs for working professionals across engineering domains including systems. It is a broad incumbent because, while not a systems engineering degree program, it competes for the same corporate training budgets and professional upskilling audience.
Direct peers
- Georgia Tech Systems Engineering Online Master's: Georgia Tech offers an online M.S. in Systems Engineering through OMSCS/OMSCY-style platforms targeting working professionals. It is a direct peer given the distance learning format, similar INCOSE-aligned curriculum, and overlapping employer base in aerospace and defense.
- MIT System Design and Management Program: MIT's SDM program is a graduate degree program focused on systems engineering and management for working professionals. It is a direct peer given the shared M.S./M.Eng.-style curriculum in systems engineering, similar working-professional orientation, and overlapping corporate partnerships in aerospace/defense and tech.
- Johns Hopkins Engineering Programs (EP): Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals offers graduate systems engineering programs in a hybrid/online format serving working professionals, including at JHU APL (a listed employer of Cornell graduates). It is a direct peer in distance-learning graduate engineering for defense and government sponsors.
- University of Michigan Systems Engineering Program: University of Michigan offers a graduate certificate and M.S. in Systems Engineering. It is a direct peer given the shared INCOSE-aligned curriculum, employer-sponsored working professional students, and similar engineering school structure.
- Stanford School of Engineering (Systems Engineering): Stanford offers graduate programs with systems engineering and design coursework within its School of Engineering. It is a direct peer in elite-tier graduate systems engineering education targeting industry-sponsored students from tech and aerospace.
- Purdue School of Industrial Engineering: Purdue's Industrial Engineering school offers graduate programs with systems engineering coursework and concentrations. It is a direct peer in technical graduate engineering education with strong employer pipelines into aerospace, defense, and manufacturing.
- Stevens Institute of Technology Systems Engineering: Stevens offers graduate programs in systems engineering with both on-campus and online formats. It is a direct peer given the similar M.Eng./M.S. structure, distance learning option, and INCOSE certification pathway.
- USC Systems Architecture and Engineering: USC's Systems Architecture and Engineering program offers graduate degrees in systems engineering with strong aerospace and defense industry ties. It is a direct peer in M.S.-level systems engineering education serving Southern California defense contractors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cornell Systems Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceCornell Systems Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cornell Systems Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cornell Systems Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cornell Systems Engineering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cornell Systems Engineering
What does Cornell Systems Engineering do?
Cornell Systems Engineering delivers graduate-level educational programs in systems engineering through Cornell University's David A. Duffield College of Engineering. The portfolio includes on-campus and hybrid distance learning Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degrees, research-focused M.S. and Ph.D. programs, an M.S./Ph.D. graduate minor, optional specialization pathways, and a suite of professional certificates (including INCOSE ASEP/CSEP, Six Sigma, and Sustainable Energy Systems Transition) for both matriculated students and non-degree working professionals.
Is Cornell Systems Engineering a public or private company?
Cornell Systems Engineering is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cornell Systems Engineering founded?
Cornell Systems Engineering was founded in 1964. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cornell Systems Engineering based?
Cornell Systems Engineering is headquartered in Ithaca, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cornell Systems Engineering make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. M.Eng. Tuition is the primary driver. The others are professional Certificate Tuition and corporate Training Partnerships.
Who are Cornell Systems Engineering's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are UC Berkeley Industrial Engineering & Operations Research and MIT Professional Education. Direct peers are Georgia Tech Systems Engineering Online Master's, MIT System Design and Management Program, Johns Hopkins Engineering Programs (EP), University of Michigan Systems Engineering Program, Stanford School of Engineering (Systems Engineering), Purdue School of Industrial Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology Systems Engineering and USC Systems Architecture and Engineering.
Does Cornell Systems Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cornell Systems Engineering.
What industry is Cornell Systems Engineering in?
Cornell Systems Engineering's product category is Higher Education / Engineering Graduate Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAI, Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains, with a secondary code of EDAHALAB, Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.