
[Management Information Systems](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/mis-management-information-systems/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value management information systems schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in management information systems, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of California Irvine earned the #1 spot for value among management information systems schools in California. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the management information systems program here. Soon after graduation, management information systems degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $68,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Ashford University one of the best values for management information systems. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,960. Typical student debt for management information systems graduates is $40,327. Early-career management information systems graduates make about $76,015. Set against $40,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in management information systems, landing the #3 spot this year. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,284. Management Information Systems graduates carry a median of $28,675 in student loans. Early-career management information systems graduates make about $92,104. That is a strong return on a $28,675 median debt.
More Management Information Systems Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.