2027 Best Value Computer Programming Associate’s Degree Schools
[Computer Programming](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong computer programming education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 127 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value computer programming schools.
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2027 Best Value Computer Programming Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in computer programming, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Computer Programming Schools
For return on investment in computer programming, no school beat Joliet Junior College this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Computer Programming graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of San Mateo came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $12,831. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Petersburg College earned it the #3 place for computer programming. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the computer programming program here. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $48,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Atlanta Technical College earned it the #5 place for computer programming. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $35,441. That is a strong return on a $17,655 median debt.
Santa Monica College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Hillsborough Community College placed #7 among the best values for computer programming. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,262 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $42,710 early in their careers. Set against $18,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Miramar College came in at #8 for value in computer programming this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Computer Programming graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College placed #9 among the best values for computer programming. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Students borrow a median of $15,138 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $36,247 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,138 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #10 for value in computer programming this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Students borrow a median of $12,736 to complete the computer programming program here. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $55,996. That is a strong return on a $12,736 median debt.
Tarrant County College District ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College came in at #12 for value in computer programming this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $21,908. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $53,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College earned the #13 position for value in computer programming this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $9,616. Computer Programming graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #14 among the best values for computer programming. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Computer Programming graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $33,937 early in their careers. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College earned the #15 position for value in computer programming this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the computer programming program here. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College placed #16 among the best values for computer programming. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $6,000. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Essex County College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Located in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,415, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $12,472. Computer Programming graduates of Essex County College earn a median of $37,915 early in their careers. Set against $12,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College placed #18 among the best values for computer programming. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $9,191. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College placed #19 among the best values for computer programming. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the computer programming program here. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College placed #20 among the best values for computer programming. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,267. That is a strong return on a $11,967 median debt.
El Paso Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $8,542. Computer Programming graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Cuny College Of Staten Island landed the #22 spot for computer programming value this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $51,911 early in their careers. Set against $14,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
West Georgia Technical College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Students borrow a median of $12,651 to complete the computer programming program here. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $39,922. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Amarillo College earned the #24 position for value in computer programming this year. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,884 to complete the computer programming program here. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $32,074. That is a strong return on a $11,884 median debt.
Hinds Community College landed the #25 spot for computer programming value this year. Set in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,385 to complete the computer programming program here. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $34,003. Set against $16,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Computer Programming Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for computer programming this year:
Other Computer Programming Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Computer Programming rankings across degree levels:
View All Computer Programming Rankings >
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 · 127 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 127 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.
