by our College Data Analytics Team
[Data Processing](/majors/computer-information-sciences/data-processing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong data processing education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for data processing students.
What’s on this page:
The right data processing school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Data Processing Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Data Processing Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the data processing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is El Centro College, our #1 best value for data processing in the United States. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $10,718. Early-career data processing graduates make about $38,457. That is a strong return on a $10,718 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Georgia Technical College earned it the #2 place for data processing. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. Students from in state pay about $3,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $10,423. Data Processing graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,497 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in data processing will find it at Trident Technical College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $18,116. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Queensborough Community College one of the best values for data processing. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the data processing program here. Data Processing graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $26,484 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Spartanburg Community College one of the best values for data processing. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,148 to complete the data processing program here. Early-career data processing graduates make about $39,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Bronx Community College placed #6 among the best values for data processing. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,206 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $8,224 in student loans. Data Processing graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $35,768 early in their careers. Set against $8,224 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Georgia Technical College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value data processing schools. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,410, while out-of-state students pay about $5,978. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $12,651. Early-career data processing graduates make about $39,922. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Midlands Technical College landed the #8 spot for data processing value this year. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $14,013 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from Midlands Technical College generally make around $40,012. Set against $14,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Horry Georgetown Technical College placed #9 among the best values for data processing. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career data processing graduates make about $38,825. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florence Darlington Technical College earned the #10 position for value in data processing this year. Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,636, while out-of-state students pay about $6,772. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. Early-career data processing graduates make about $34,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College earned the #11 position for value in data processing this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $7,858. Early-career data processing graduates make about $35,562. That is a strong return on a $7,858 median debt.
Aiken Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value data processing schools. Located in the suburb of Graniteville, Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,174, compared with $7,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,884 to complete the data processing program here. Data Processing graduates of Aiken Technical College earn a median of $51,894 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,884 median debt.
Mclennan Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value data processing schools. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $11,598. Early-career data processing graduates make about $40,499. Set against $11,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Clair County Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value data processing schools. Set in the suburb of Port Huron, St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,212, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $16,379 in student loans. Early-career data processing graduates make about $45,735. Set against $16,379 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bristol Community College landed the #15 spot for data processing value this year. Set in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,832, compared with $10,776 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $9,482. Early-career data processing graduates make about $37,897. Set against $9,482 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College placed #16 among the best values for data processing. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete the data processing program here. Data Processing graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Juan College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value data processing schools. San Juan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. Students from in state pay about $1,910 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $41,697. That is a strong return on a $16,150 median debt.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana landed the #18 spot for data processing value this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $9,750. Early-career data processing graduates make about $38,559. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Carolina Technical College placed #19 among the best values for data processing. Located in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,715, with out-of-state students paying around $9,016. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the data processing program here. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from Central Carolina Technical College generally make around $40,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value data processing schools. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the data processing program here. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
York Technical College landed the #21 spot for data processing value this year. York Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,036, while out-of-state students pay about $13,340. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the data processing program here. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from York Technical College generally make around $25,534. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College placed #22 among the best values for data processing. Set in the town of Orangeburg, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, compared with $8,354 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,583 to complete the data processing program here. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College generally make around $61,814. That is a strong return on a $18,583 median debt.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value data processing schools. Located in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,448, with out-of-state students paying around $6,016. Students borrow a median of $11,693 to complete the data processing program here. Early-career data processing graduates make about $39,765. That is a strong return on a $11,693 median debt.
Moraine Park Technical College earned the #24 position for value in data processing this year. Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fond du Lac. In-state tuition and fees average $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $11,471. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from Moraine Park Technical College generally make around $39,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Athens Technical College earned the #25 position for value in data processing this year. Located in the city of Athens, Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $5,958. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the data processing program here. Early-career data processing graduates make about $24,012. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in data processing:
Data Processing is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician | 2,380 |
View All Data Processing Concentrations >
The ranking above is published 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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 46 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.