Systems Science and Theory: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$48,134 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
12.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−18%Modeled 10-year ROI
$67,632Observed earnings · year 4
$11,580Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark would need to fall by $12,034 per year to reach it.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Systems Science and Theory
How much do Systems Science and Theory bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $67,632 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $23,250. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Systems Science and Theory?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $57,510 to $70,820 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Systems Science and Theory?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 2 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$46,320
$8,000Annual price+$14,320
$16,000Annual price−$17,680
$24,000Current college-wide context−$49,680
$32,000Annual price−$81,680
$40,000Annual price−$113,680
Observed national outcomes
$67,632Median reported earnings · year 4
$98,227Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,250Median federal debt
58thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
6With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$57,510National median$67,63275th percentile$70,820
6 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$91,034Observed year-4 earnings$48,250
Carnegie Mellon University$31,944 price · $146,929 earningsJames Madison University$23,322 price · $91,034 earningsPennsylvania Western University$18,256 price · $70,820 earningsLa Salle University$19,409 price · $64,444 earningsUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$14,355 price · $57,510 earningsMarshall University$7,502 price · $48,250 earnings
$7,502Annual college-wide average net price$23,322
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
7 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Carnegie Mellon University$146,9292James Madison University$91,0343Pennsylvania Western University$70,8204La Salle University$64,4445University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$57,5106Marshall University$48,2507Rhode Island School of DesignNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Managers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 100.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentilePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$77,640 median wage149,840 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1199+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$44,300–$160,700 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $146,929 | $23,250 | +231% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $91,034 | $22,301 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityBachelor's Degree | California, PA | $70,820 | Not available | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | La Salle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $64,444 | $25,000 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $57,510 | $20,600 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Marshall UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntington, WV | $48,250 | Not available | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Rhode Island School of DesignBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | Not available | $26,748 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $50,507 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.