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2023 Best Value IS Schools

198 Ranked Colleges
18,325 Degrees Awarded
$15,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value IS Schools

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value IS Schools” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Information Science is the 58th most popular major in the country with 18,325 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $59,394 and had an average of $28,852 in loans still to pay off.

For this year’s “Best Value IS Schools” ranking, we looked at 198 colleges that offer a degree in information science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality information science programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the information science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The is school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value IS Schools”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value IS Schools

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value IS Schools.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Information Science

1
BHCC crest
Bunker Hill Community College
Boston, Massachusetts

Out of the 198 schools in the Best Value IS Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Bunker Hill Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Bunker Hill Community College is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s IS degrees to qualified students.

BHCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Information Science Schools” list. It costs about $7,913 for is students per year to attend BHCC.

Read more about Information Science at Bunker Hill Community College

2
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ivy Tech Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value IS Schools. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 384 ’s IS degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Ivy Tech Community College is also in the top of our “Best Information Science Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $7,669 for is students per year to attend Ivy Tech Community College.

Read full report on Information Science at Ivy Tech Community College

3

Out of the 198 schools in the Best Value IS Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland Global Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Adelphi, Maryland, this large public school handed out 2,322 degrees to qualified ’s IS students in 2020-2021.

UMGC also made our “Best Information Science Schools” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $15,395 for is students per year to attend UMGC.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Maryland Global Campus Information Science Report

4

Out of the 198 schools in the Best Value IS Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #4 spot on the list. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 51 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,909 for is students.

Full Cuyahoga Community College District Information Science Report

5
Harding crest
Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas

Out of the 198 schools in the Best Value IS Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Harding University landed the #5 spot on the list. Harding is located in Searcy, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s IS degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Harding University is $19,456 for IS students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Information Science at Harding University

6
Dakota State crest
Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota

With a ranking of #6, Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools list. Dakota State University is a small school located in Madison, South Dakota that handed out 66 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Dakota State University is $18,630 for is students.

Read full report on Information Science at Dakota State

7

Hudson Valley Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools ranking. Hudson Valley Community College is located in Troy, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 70 ’s IS degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Hudson Valley Community College is $7,927 for is students.

Full Hudson Valley Community College Information Science Report

8
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska

With a ranking of #8, Bellevue University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools list. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Bellevue, Nebraska. It awarded 69 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,288 for is students per year to attend Bellevue University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at Bellevue University

9

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s IS degrees to 132 students in 2020-2021.

UT Austin also made our “Best Information Science Schools” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Austin is $18,350 for IS students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at The University of Texas at Austin

10
UD crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

University of Delaware came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools ranking. UD is a large public school situated in Newark, Delaware. It awarded 31 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

UD also claimed a top spot on our “Best Information Science Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Information Science Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Delaware is $18,967 for is students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UD Information Science Report

11

With a ranking of #11, Strayer University - Virginia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools list. Strayer University - Virginia is a private for-profit institution located in Arlington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 85 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Strayer University - Virginia is $23,189 for is students.

Full Strayer University - Virginia Information Science Report

12
Strayer University - Global Region crest
Strayer University - Global Region
Washington, District of Columbia

Strayer University - Global Region ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools list. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s IS degrees to 51 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Strayer University - Global Region is $21,585 for is students.

Read more about Information Science at Strayer University - Global Region

13

With a ranking of #13, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 388 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $14,321 for IS students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Information Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

14
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Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools list. Wayne, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s IS degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend WSC is $14,141 for is students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Information Science at Wayne State College

15

University of North Texas landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools ranking. University of North Texas is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 208 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,122 for IS students per year to attend University of North Texas.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of North Texas Information Science Report

16

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools ranking. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 91 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $13,914 for IS students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at University of Nebraska at Omaha

17
Stevenson crest
Stevenson University
Stevenson, Maryland

Stevenson University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools list. Located in Stevenson, Maryland, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 32 diplomas to qualified ’s IS students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $24,906 for is students per year to attend Stevenson.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Information Science at Stevenson University

18
OCC crest
Onondaga Community College
Syracuse, New York

With a ranking of #18, Onondaga Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools list. Syracuse, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s IS degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,410 for IS students per year to attend OCC.

Read more about Information Science at OCC

19

With a ranking of #19, University of Maryland - Baltimore County did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools list. This fairly large school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 505 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, UMBC is in the top on our “Best Information Science Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend UMBC is $19,460 for IS students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full University of Maryland - Baltimore County Information Science Report

20

Strayer University - Florida ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools list. Strayer University - Florida is a private for-profit institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $24,199 for is students per year to attend Strayer University - Florida.

Full Strayer University - Florida Information Science Report

21

Grand Valley State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools list. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 36 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $17,356 for IS students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Valley State University Information Science Report

22
Metro State crest
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools ranking. Metropolitan State University is a public institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 51 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Metro State is $16,044 for is students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Information Science at Metropolitan State University

23

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools ranking. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 203 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,486 for IS students per year to attend UWM.

Read more about Information Science at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

24
SRU crest
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #24, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools list. SRU is a medium-sized public school situated in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. It awarded 12 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $19,927 for IS students per year to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at SRU

25

With a ranking of #25, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools list. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s IS degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,505 for is students per year to attend Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.

Read more about Information Science at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Rest of the Best 30 in Best Value IS Schools

Not only did these schools make the top 30 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Strayer University - North Carolina crest
Strayer University - North Carolina
Morrisville, North Carolina
27
28
29
30
Strayer University - New Jersey crest
Strayer University - New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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