2027 Best Value Systems Science & Theory Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Systems Science & Theory](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/systems-science-theory/systems-science-and-theory/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value systems science & theory schools.
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2027 Best Value Systems Science & Theory Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the systems science & theory degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Systems Science & Theory Schools
For return on investment in systems science & theory, no school beat Eastern Illinois University this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for systems science & theory graduates is $24,293. Early-career systems science & theory graduates make about $43,603. That is a strong return on a $24,293 median debt. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in systems science & theory will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Systems Science & Theory graduates carry a median of $20,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, systems science & theory degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $35,239. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for systems science & theory. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Systems Science & Theory graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Early-career systems science & theory graduates make about $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Chicago one of the best values for systems science & theory. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Systems Science & Theory graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Early-career systems science & theory graduates make about $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
