I still don't know if I want to do systems administration and then either stay with that or move up to systems engineering, or just go for systems engineering from the start. They both look like fun jobs. What I was thinking of doing though is if I want to do systems administration I'd get a bachelors degree in computer science( and of course learn as much about unix as I can right now) and then when I know enough about unix try and get a position as a system administrator.
If I decided to become a systems engineer though, what my plan for that was was to get a masters of computer science and of course learn as much as I can about Unix, and then try and get a level I systems engineering job. From the information I was able to find there is level I, II, III, IV, and V engineers. Maybe it'd be better to start with Systems Administration though and if I feel like moving up to systems engineering I could? Do you by any chance know how long most people are systems administrators before they become systems engineers? I'm having a really hard time deciding which I want to do I'm a bit concerned about my salary too because I'd like to be making enough to be able to get a nice house out in Colorado Springs. It looks like I need about at least $100k salary to do that though(hopefully the housing market will change though). Which is why I was planning on remaining here in PA and living in a townhouse for probably another 10 - 12 yrs years after I have my degree and have started working. The cost of living is really low here(at least, low for the way the economy is over here in the US) and I could probably save up a down payment for a house in CO while I'm living here. From what I figure though from what most people said, and according to SAGE(which someone here sent me the link to), most Systems Administrators make between $85k and $91k a year here in the US. According to salary.com software engineers(which I'm guessing a Unix Systems Engineer would count as a software engineer) make about $110k... not sure how accurate that is though. Anyways, pretty much what I want is a job that's Unix related that makes a pretty good salary(enough that I get a nice house) and is something I would enjoy doing. and like I said, both of those jobs looks like something I'd enjoy doing.
Thanks again for your help zxmaus!

Anyone who has any more info I'm still open to hearing all I can about these 2 jobs and what they're like