Systems Science and Theory: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
−$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.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
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.
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
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
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.