[Informatics](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-information-systems-cis/informatics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong informatics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for informatics students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in informatics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Massachusetts Amherst, our #1 best value for informatics in Massachusetts. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for informatics graduates is $25,234. Informatics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Clark University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in informatics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,467. Students borrow a median of $26,153 to complete the informatics program here. Early-career informatics graduates make about $43,257. Set against $26,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Northeastern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in informatics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Informatics graduates carry a median of $23,001 in student loans. Informatics graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $74,800 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,001 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
