[General Computer & Information Sciences](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-information-systems-cis/general-computer-information-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 64 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general computer & information sciences schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general computer & information sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Sinclair Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general computer & information sciences schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Carl Sandburg College earned it the #2 place for general computer & information sciences. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. Students from in state pay about $5,390 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,604 in student loans. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Carl Sandburg College earn a median of $48,534 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #3 place for general computer & information sciences. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $113,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Lake County came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $9,785. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Northwest came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $26,434. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Indiana University Northwest earn a median of $48,925 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,434 median debt. Indiana University Northwest admits about 73% of applicants.
Columbus State Community College earned the #6 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $12,226. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $38,869. That is a strong return on a $12,226 median debt.
Oakland University came in at #8 for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $26,500. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $66,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #9 for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $77,273. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University placed #10 among the best values for general computer & information sciences. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $20,672. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $77,371. That is a strong return on a $20,672 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Purdue University Global earned the #11 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $54,293. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $73,055. That is a strong return on a $54,293 median debt.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #12 for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $10,388. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Lakeland Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,872, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,857 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $19,985. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $72,132. Set against $19,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
National Louis University earned the #15 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $53,733 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Kenosha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,270, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,485 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $40,365. Set against $24,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Flint placed #17 among the best values for general computer & information sciences. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. In-state tuition and fees average $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $31,016. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $75,242. That is a strong return on a $31,016 median debt. University Of Michigan Flint admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #18 for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,008, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $47,577. That is a strong return on a $24,245 median debt. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #19 for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $26,250. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $68,037 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University earned the #20 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,196 in student loans. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $44,293 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Wisconsin Superior earned the #21 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,812, with out-of-state students paying around $16,726. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $27,845. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Superior earn a median of $45,219 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,845 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earned the #22 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,639, with out-of-state students paying around $13,871. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $20,017. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $39,221. That is a strong return on a $20,017 median debt.
Western Illinois University landed the #23 spot for general computer & information sciences value this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $25,250. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $62,578 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater landed the #24 spot for general computer & information sciences value this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $25,742. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $52,995. That is a strong return on a $25,742 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,999 in student loans. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $47,216 early in their careers. Set against $21,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 64 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 64 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.
