[General Computer & Information Sciences](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-information-systems-cis/general-computer-information-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general computer & information sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 82 schools to find the best return on investment for general computer & information sciences students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general computer & information sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
College Of The Mainland tops our 2026 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools in Texas. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $10,928. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general computer & information sciences will find it at South Texas College, which ranked #2. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,967 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $33,522. That is a strong return on a $6,967 median debt.
Texas A And M University Central Texas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general computer & information sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Killeen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,363, with out-of-state students paying around $17,155. Students borrow a median of $24,095 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $45,536. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general computer & information sciences will find it at Tarrant County College District, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,867 in student loans. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $37,808. Set against $12,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general computer & information sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $49,032 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt.
Lamar State College Orange earned the #6 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Set in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,506 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $45,299. Set against $18,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity Valley Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Set in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Students borrow a median of $12,323 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $32,623. Set against $12,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Texas College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Set in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $6,150. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,691 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from Western Texas College generally make around $68,077. Set against $8,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College earned the #9 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Palo Alto College came in at #10 for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $9,430 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from Palo Alto College generally make around $29,062. That is a strong return on a $9,430 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #11 spot for general computer & information sciences value this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $33,893. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Houston Community College earned the #12 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned the #13 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,148, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $10,058. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $30,343. That is a strong return on a $10,058 median debt.
Kilgore College placed #14 among the best values for general computer & information sciences. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $44,322 early in their careers. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Temple College placed #15 among the best values for general computer & information sciences. Set in the city of Temple, Temple College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, while out-of-state students pay about $7,524. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $16,617. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Temple College earn a median of $55,262 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,617 median debt.
Paris Junior College came in at #16 for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Set in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,700, while out-of-state students pay about $5,700. Students borrow a median of $8,846 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $38,811. Set against $8,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Houston Victoria landed the #17 spot for general computer & information sciences value this year. Located in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,149, while out-of-state students pay about $16,941. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $20,671. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from University Of Houston Victoria generally make around $52,251. Set against $20,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Collin County Community College District ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,716 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $42,177. That is a strong return on a $9,716 median debt.
Lone Star College System ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,512. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $39,224. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earned the #20 position for value in general computer & information sciences this year. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. In-state tuition and fees average $9,607, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $20,052 to complete the general computer & information sciences program here. Early-career general computer & information sciences graduates make about $60,503. That is a strong return on a $20,052 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Southwest Texas Junior College landed the #21 spot for general computer & information sciences value this year. Located in the town of Uvalde, Southwest Texas Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,646, compared with $6,294 for out-of-state students. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $7,157 in student loans. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Southwest Texas Junior College earn a median of $25,528 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,157 median debt.
Angelina College landed the #22 spot for general computer & information sciences value this year. Set in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,430 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,490. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $7,828 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from Angelina College generally make around $50,767. That is a strong return on a $7,828 median debt.
The University Of Texas At El Paso placed #23 among the best values for general computer & information sciences. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $73,311. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Tyler Junior College came in at #24 for value in general computer & information sciences this year. Located in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general computer & information sciences degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general computer & information sciences schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general computer & information sciences graduates is $22,625. General Computer & Information Sciences graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $72,804 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general computer & information sciences:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 82 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 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.
