Best Schools for Systems Science and Theory in 2026
These are the top schools offering Systems Science and Theory, ranked by DegreeWorth Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Systems Science and Theory graduate earns $49,461/yr across 6 schools.
All Systems Science and Theory Programs Ranked
Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.
| # | Program | DW Score | Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Systems Science and Theory
James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA |
78
75–79 |
$65,683/yr | Moderate | 17.7x |
| 2 |
Systems Science and Theory
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA |
67
65–68 |
$95,598/yr | Moderate | 4.2x |
| 3 |
Systems Science and Theory
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL |
55
52–57 |
$35,239/yr | Moderate | 8.3x |
| 4 |
Systems Science and Theory
Marshall University · Huntington, WV |
53
54–51 |
$29,539/yr | Moderate | 7.3x |
| 5 |
Systems Science and Theory
La Salle University · Philadelphia, PA |
49
48–48 |
$36,442/yr | Moderate | 1.6x |
| 6 |
Systems Science and Theory
Rhode Island School of Design · Providence, RI |
44
42–45 |
$34,265/yr | Moderate | 0.4x |
Methodology
Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).
Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.