2026 Best Value Data Processing Associate’s Degree Schools
[Data Processing](/majors/computer-information-sciences/data-processing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 141 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value data processing schools.
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2026 Best Value Data Processing Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in data processing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Data Processing Schools
Leading the list is Trident Technical College, our #1 best value for data processing in the United States. 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. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the data processing program here. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queensborough Community College earned it the #2 place for data processing. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,210, while out-of-state students pay about $8,090. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the data processing program here. Early-career data processing graduates make about $26,484. Set against $10,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in data processing will find it at Cuny Bronx Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,206, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Centro College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value data processing schools. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $10,718 to complete the data processing program here. Data Processing graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $38,457 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,718 median debt.
Horry Georgetown Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in data processing, landing the #5 spot this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Conway. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $16,500. Data Processing graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $38,825 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana came in at #6 for value in data processing 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. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the data processing program here. Early-career data processing graduates make about $38,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College earned the #7 position for value in data processing this year. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, compared with $14,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $14,013. Data Processing graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $40,012 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,013 median debt.
York Technical College came in at #8 for value in data processing this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,036, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $15,125 in student loans. Early-career data processing graduates make about $25,617. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value data processing schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,252 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,132. Students borrow a median of $7,858 to complete the data processing program here. Data Processing graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $35,562 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,858 median debt.
Tri County Technical College landed the #10 spot for data processing value this year. Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,448, with out-of-state students paying around $12,007. Students borrow a median of $15,787 to complete the data processing program here. Soon after graduation, data processing degree recipients from Tri County Technical College generally make around $34,725. That is a strong return on a $15,787 median debt.
Aiken Technical College landed the #11 spot for data processing value this year. Located in the suburb of Graniteville, Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,174, compared with $7,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $17,884. Data Processing graduates of Aiken Technical College earn a median of $51,894 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Technical College landed the #12 spot for data processing value this year. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,715, with out-of-state students paying around $9,016. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $15,750. Early-career data processing graduates make about $40,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Greenville Technical College earned the #13 position for value in data processing this year. Greenville Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,495, with out-of-state students paying around $10,775. Students borrow a median of $21,083 to complete the data processing program here. Early-career data processing graduates make about $39,062. That is a strong return on a $21,083 median debt.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College placed #14 among the best values for data processing. Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orangeburg. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,354. Students borrow a median of $18,583 to complete the data processing program here. Data Processing graduates of Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College earn a median of $61,814 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spartanburg Community College came in at #15 for value in data processing this year. 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. Typical student debt for data processing graduates is $10,148. Data Processing graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $39,702 early in their careers. Set against $10,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bristol Community College came in at #16 for value in data processing this year. Located in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,832, with out-of-state students paying around $10,776. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $9,482 in student loans. Early-career data processing graduates make about $37,897. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College placed #17 among the best values for data processing. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. 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. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Public University System came in at #18 for value in data processing this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career data processing graduates make about $44,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Technical College earned the #19 position for value in data processing this year. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,775, while out-of-state students pay about $6,923. Data Processing graduates carry a median of $17,652 in student loans. Early-career data processing graduates make about $36,577. Set against $17,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami University Hamilton came in at #20 for value in data processing this year. Located in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,012, compared with $18,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,031 to complete the data processing program here. Early-career data processing graduates make about $44,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Data Processing Degree Levels
Explore the best-value data processing schools at other degree levels:
View All Data Processing Rankings >
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 · 141 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
