2026 Best Value App Specific Computer Programming Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[App Specific Computer Programming](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/app-specific-computer-programming/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 44 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value app specific computer programming schools.
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2026 Best Value App Specific Computer Programming Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the app specific computer programming degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value App Specific Computer Programming Schools
For return on investment in app specific computer programming, no school beat Moraine Valley Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Early-career app specific computer programming graduates make about $43,844. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Henry Ford Community College one of the best values for app specific computer programming. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Typical student debt for app specific computer programming graduates is $15,138. Soon after graduation, app specific computer programming degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in app specific computer programming will find it at Washtenaw Community College, which ranked #3. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, app specific computer programming degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in app specific computer programming will find it at Joliet Junior College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for app specific computer programming graduates is $11,995. Early-career app specific computer programming graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in app specific computer programming, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $7,812 in student loans. App Specific Computer Programming graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,812 median debt.
Lansing Community College earned the #6 position for value in app specific computer programming this year. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. App Specific Computer Programming graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #7 among the best values for app specific computer programming. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for app specific computer programming graduates is $12,736. App Specific Computer Programming graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $55,996 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College placed #8 among the best values for app specific computer programming. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Early-career app specific computer programming graduates make about $40,734. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mott Community College came in at #9 for value in app specific computer programming this year. Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Students from in state pay about $6,845 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $20,645 in student loans. Soon after graduation, app specific computer programming degree recipients from Mott Community College generally make around $37,989. That is a strong return on a $20,645 median debt.
Stark State College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value app specific computer programming schools. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Early-career app specific computer programming graduates make about $42,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value app specific computer programming schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Typical student debt for app specific computer programming graduates is $9,041. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #12 position for value in app specific computer programming this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for app specific computer programming graduates is $10,388. Early-career app specific computer programming graduates make about $44,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson Community College came in at #13 for value in app specific computer programming this year. Set in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Early-career app specific computer programming graduates make about $41,322. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
Parkland College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value app specific computer programming schools. Located in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,284, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the app specific computer programming program here. App Specific Computer Programming graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $40,409 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #15 spot for app specific computer programming value this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Typical student debt for app specific computer programming graduates is $16,595. Soon after graduation, app specific computer programming degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $46,398. Set against $16,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
James A Rhodes State College earned the #16 position for value in app specific computer programming this year. Set in the rural area of Lima, James A Rhodes State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,120. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $17,070 in student loans. App Specific Computer Programming graduates of James A Rhodes State College earn a median of $47,074 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,070 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #17 spot for app specific computer programming value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, app specific computer programming degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Park Technical College came in at #18 for value in app specific computer programming this year. Set in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,819, with out-of-state students paying around $7,084. App Specific Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. Soon after graduation, app specific computer programming degree recipients from Moraine Park Technical College generally make around $39,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owens Community College placed #19 among the best values for app specific computer programming. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,870, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,383 to complete the app specific computer programming program here. App Specific Computer Programming graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. Set against $19,383 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value app specific computer programming schools. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Typical student debt for app specific computer programming graduates is $11,709. Soon after graduation, app specific computer programming degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. That is a strong return on a $11,709 median debt.
Depaul University placed #21 among the best values for app specific computer programming. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,497 to complete the app specific computer programming program here. Early-career app specific computer programming graduates make about $83,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Dsdt ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value app specific computer programming schools. Dsdt is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. Students borrow a median of $12,018 to complete the app specific computer programming program here. Early-career app specific computer programming graduates make about $32,326.
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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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.