[Informatics](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-information-systems-cis/informatics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 67 schools to find the best return on investment for informatics students.
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The right informatics school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Informatics Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Informatics Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in informatics, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value informatics schools in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Informatics graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $90,651. Set against $16,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value informatics schools. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $14,340 to complete the informatics program here. Early-career informatics graduates make about $48,719. 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 informatics. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the informatics program here. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $113,634. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of South Florida Main Campus one of the best values for informatics. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Informatics graduates carry a median of $24,489 in student loans. Informatics graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $61,046 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Northeast Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in informatics, landing the #5 spot this year. Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Norfolk. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $12,000. Early-career informatics graduates make about $40,568. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #6 among the best values for informatics. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete the informatics program here. Early-career informatics graduates make about $42,595. Set against $24,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida landed the #7 spot for informatics value this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the informatics program here. Early-career informatics graduates make about $61,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
New College Of Florida placed #8 among the best values for informatics. Located in the city of Sarasota, New College Of Florida is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,916, with out-of-state students paying around $29,944. Informatics graduates carry a median of $17,407 in student loans. Early-career informatics graduates make about $26,626. Set against $17,407 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value informatics schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $12,226. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $38,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Northwest ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value informatics schools. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,434 to complete the informatics program here. Informatics 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. The acceptance rate is 73%.
San Jose State University placed #11 among the best values for informatics. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #12 for value in informatics this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $25,780. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $69,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
North Carolina A And T State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value informatics schools. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, compared with $20,673 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $29,078. Early-career informatics graduates make about $50,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #14 for value in informatics this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,277 to complete the informatics program here. Early-career informatics graduates make about $98,235. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Indiana University Southeast came in at #15 for value in informatics this year. Set in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Informatics graduates carry a median of $23,981 in student loans. Early-career informatics graduates make about $43,463. That is a strong return on a $23,981 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Georgia came in at #16 for value in informatics this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $21,792. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value informatics schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Informatics graduates carry a median of $20,015 in student loans. Early-career informatics graduates make about $50,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value informatics schools. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Students borrow a median of $19,875 to complete the informatics program here. Informatics graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $58,750 early in their careers. Set against $19,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Arizona University came in at #19 for value in informatics this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $21,645. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Womans University placed #20 among the best values for informatics. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,640, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $18,399. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $62,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine landed the #21 spot for informatics value this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $53,517. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Arizona State University earned the #22 position for value in informatics this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $15,312. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $71,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Phoenix Arizona placed #23 among the best values for informatics. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $9,552 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,771 to complete the informatics program here. Informatics graduates of University Of Phoenix Arizona earn a median of $57,809 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,771 median debt.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette placed #24 among the best values for informatics. Located in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,418, while out-of-state students pay about $24,146. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $25,945. Informatics graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of $40,583 early in their careers. Set against $25,945 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #25 spot for informatics value this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, informatics degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $62,350. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s informatics value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 67 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.
