2026 Best Value Systems Science Theory Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Systems Science Theory doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 59 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Systems Science Theory Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Carnegie Mellon University Systems Science Theory students take on a median of $23,250 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $114,862 ten years after entry. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants. See the full Carnegie Mellon University profile
University Of California Irvine came in at #2 on this year's best-value Systems Science Theory ranking in the United States. Set in Irvine, CA, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. University Of California Irvine Systems Science Theory students take on a median of $16,539 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $80,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Irvine has an acceptance rate of 29%. See the full University Of California Irvine profile
University Of Central Florida came in at #3 on this year's best-value Systems Science Theory ranking in the United States. Set in Orlando, FL, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Median earnings reach $58,308 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Central Florida profile
A rank of #4 makes Suny At Binghamton one of the best values in the United States. This public school is set in Vestal, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $80,596. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants. See the full Suny At Binghamton profile
Out of the 59 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Portland State University landed the #5 spot. Set in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Typical Systems Science Theory student debt is $26,475. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,906 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted. More on Portland State University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical Systems Science Theory student debt is $22,113. Median earnings reach $68,758 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 42% of those who apply are admitted. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
The University Of Tennessee offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Knoxville, TN. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. The median Systems Science Theory program debt is $22,859. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $60,249. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants. Read more about The University Of Tennessee
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. See the full Purdue University Main Campus profile
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Pennsylvania Western University
New York University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. Read the full report on New York University
Seattle University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Read the full report on Seattle University
Pitzer College
Pitzer College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Pitzer College
Old Dominion University landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Old Dominion University
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. More on Saint Louis University Main Campus
Rutgers University Camden placed #15 among the best-value Systems Science Theory schools in the United States. Read more about Rutgers University Camden
College For Creative Studies offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. See the full College For Creative Studies profile
Florida Atlantic University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Florida Atlantic University
Rice University
Rice University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Rice University
Suny College At Buffalo came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Suny College At Buffalo
Clemson University placed #20 among the best-value Systems Science Theory schools in the United States. Get the full Clemson University report
School Of Visual Arts ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. Get the full School Of Visual Arts report
United States Military Academy ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. More on United States Military Academy
Southern Illinois University Carbondale offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read more about Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Boston University placed #24 among the best-value Systems Science Theory schools in the United States. Read more about Boston University
Union College New York ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. See the full Union College New York profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Systems Science Theory Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Johnson And Wales University Providence landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Johnson And Wales University Providence profile
Eastern Illinois University came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. More on Eastern Illinois University
Kansas State University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on Kansas State University
Northwestern University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. More on Northwestern University
North Park University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on North Park University
Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Nebraska Wesleyan University
The New School
The New School came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Get the full The New School report
Capitol College
Capitol College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. Read more about Capitol College
Arizona State University Skysong placed #34 among the best-value Systems Science Theory schools in the United States. See the full Arizona State University Skysong profile
Harvard University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Harvard University report
University Of Iowa landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Iowa profile
James Madison University came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. More on James Madison University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Alabama At Birmingham offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. More on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
La Salle University came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full La Salle University report
Northeastern University landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northeastern University
Claremont Mckenna College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. More on Claremont Mckenna College
Scripps College
Scripps College offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Scripps College
Siena Heights University landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Siena Heights University
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full Minnesota State University Mankato profile
Savannah College Of Art And Design ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. Read more about Savannah College Of Art And Design
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. Get the full Worcester Polytechnic Institute report
Marshall University placed #48 among the best-value Systems Science Theory schools in the United States. More on Marshall University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. See the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign profile
University At Buffalo ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Systems Science Theory schools. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
Related Systems Science Theory Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Systems Science Theory Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Systems Science Theory Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Systems Science Theory Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Systems Science Theory Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Systems Science Theory Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Systems Science Theory Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Systems Science Theory Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 59 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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