2027 Best Value Computer Programming Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Computer Programming](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for computer programming students.
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2027 Best Value Computer Programming Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $12,799. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $45,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer programming, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Students borrow a median of $11,038 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,804 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Charles Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer programming, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,810, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $12,606 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. Set against $12,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer programming, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $14,935. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $44,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Ozarks Technical Community College one of the best values for computer programming. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,256 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,040. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $11,964. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $37,074. That is a strong return on a $11,964 median debt.
St Cloud Technical And Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Computer Programming graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of $48,652 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian Hills Community College earned the #7 position for value in computer programming this year. Set in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $12,000. Computer Programming graduates of Indian Hills Community College earn a median of $63,559 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hennepin Technical College placed #8 among the best values for computer programming. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $52,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirkwood Community College landed the #9 spot for computer programming value this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $15,737. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $39,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ridgewater College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,121. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $15,556 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Ridgewater College generally make around $42,178. That is a strong return on a $15,556 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #11 position for value in computer programming this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $43,121 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $6,326 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,650 to complete the computer programming program here. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $38,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Hennepin Community College came in at #13 for value in computer programming this year. North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,061. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from North Hennepin Community College generally make around $52,492. That is a strong return on a $21,241 median debt.
Missouri Southern State University came in at #14 for value in computer programming this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,600 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,241 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $39,434 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
Fort Hays State University landed the #15 spot for computer programming value this year. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, with out-of-state students paying around $17,741. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the computer programming program here. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $57,162. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Dakota County Technical College placed #16 among the best values for computer programming. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $13,474. Computer Programming graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $50,429 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,474 median debt.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #17 among the best values for computer programming. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Students borrow a median of $22,600 to complete the computer programming program here. Computer Programming graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $55,069 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,600 median debt.
Johnson County Community College landed the #18 spot for computer programming value this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $13,532. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $46,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #19 for value in computer programming this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $15,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Eastern Iowa Community College District generally make around $41,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Western Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $7,080. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer programming degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. That is a strong return on a $15,153 median debt.
Maharishi University Of Management placed #21 among the best values for computer programming. Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fairfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,530. Computer Programming graduates of Maharishi University Of Management earn a median of $73,644 early in their careers. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri St Louis landed the #22 spot for computer programming value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $25,943 in student loans. Computer Programming graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
Linn State Technical College landed the #23 spot for computer programming value this year. Located in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Computer Programming graduates carry a median of $11,042 in student loans. Computer Programming graduates of Linn State Technical College earn a median of $45,538 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,042 median debt.
Flint Hills Technical College landed the #24 spot for computer programming value this year. Located in the town of Emporia, Flint Hills Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,944. Students borrow a median of $14,690 to complete the computer programming program here. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $40,435. That is a strong return on a $14,690 median debt.
Southeast Technical Institute ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value computer programming schools. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,650. Typical student debt for computer programming graduates is $14,827. Early-career computer programming graduates make about $53,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 31 Best Value Computer Programming Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for computer programming this year:
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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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 31 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.
