Systems Science and Theory graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn $34,265 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $26,748.
Systems Science and Theory at Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Systems Science and Theory at Rhode Island School of Design
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Rhode Island School of Design and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Systems Science and Theory at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 75 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Rhode Island School of Design, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $34,265 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $73,322 across all institutions offering Systems Science and Theory, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Rhode Island School of Design, the mean median-earnings figure is $53,949, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Systems Science and Theory graduates at Rhode Island School of Design is $26,748, which translates to roughly $223 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Systems Science and Theory at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | $146,929 | $23,250 |
| James Madison University | $91,034 | $21,500 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | $70,820 | — |
| La Salle University | $64,444 | $23,512 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $57,510 | $20,350 |
| Marshall University | $48,250 | — |
| Rhode Island School of Design (this school) | $34,265 | $26,748 |
Other Programs at Rhode Island School of Design
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | $93,136 | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $80,220 | $76,145 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $67,771 | $27,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $59,372 | $27,000 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $55,673 | — |
| Interior Architecture | $54,035 | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $51,278 | $27,000 |
| Architecture | $50,439 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $48,215 | $42,005 |
| Architecture | $48,198 | — |
Other Schools with Systems Science and Theory
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.