by our College Data Analytics Team
[Systems Science Theory](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/systems-science-theory/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a systems science theory degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying systems science theory schools.
What’s on this page:
Where you study systems science theory affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Systems Science Theory Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose systems science theory degrees pay off the most.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Systems Science Theory Graduates list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools send systems science theory graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Carnegie Mellon University, our #1 for systems science theory graduate salaries in the United States. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, systems science theory degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University typically earn about $133,740 annually.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham produces some of the highest-paid graduates in systems science theory, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. After graduating, systems science theory degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham typically earn about $148,357 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in systems science theory will find them at James Madison University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Students who complete the systems science theory program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,452.
The New School came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying systems science theory schools. The New School is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, systems science theory degree recipients from The New School typically earn about $97,856 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Suny At Binghamton one of the highest-paying schools for systems science theory. Suny At Binghamton is a public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Students who complete the systems science theory program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,628.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #6 position for systems science theory graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. After graduating, systems science theory degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign typically earn about $59,488 annually.
La Salle University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying systems science theory schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career systems science theory graduates from La Salle University make a median of around $36,442 per year.
School Of Visual Arts landed the #8 spot for systems science theory salaries this year. Located in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a private for-profit institution. Early-career systems science theory graduates from School Of Visual Arts make a median of around $68,946 per year.
Rhode Island School Of Design earned the #9 position for systems science theory graduate earnings this year. Rhode Island School Of Design is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Students who complete the systems science theory program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,265.
Marshall University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying systems science theory schools. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a public institution. After graduating, systems science theory degree recipients from Marshall University typically earn about $29,539 annually.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #11 spot for systems science theory salaries this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Early-career systems science theory graduates from North Carolina State University At Raleigh make a median of around $65,032 per year.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries systems science theory graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 11 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.