[General Information Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/general-information-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for general information science students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general information science, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in general information science, no school beat Cuyahoga Community College District this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Students borrow a median of $17,629 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $45,238. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general information science will find it at Bunker Hill Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Students borrow a median of $11,893 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Bunker Hill Community College generally make around $51,782. Set against $11,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prince Georges Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general information science schools. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,034, compared with $8,762 for out-of-state students. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $13,949 in student loans. General Information Science graduates of Prince Georges Community College earn a median of $56,960 early in their careers. Set against $13,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #4 place for general information science. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $13,475 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $54,649. That is a strong return on a $13,475 median debt.
North Central Texas College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general information science schools. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $5,739. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the general information science program here. Early-career general information science graduates make about $43,536. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College earned the #6 position for value in general information science this year. Set in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,894, with out-of-state students paying around $12,030. Students borrow a median of $13,970 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $36,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #7 for value in general information science this year. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $8,942. Early-career general information science graduates make about $38,906. That is a strong return on a $8,942 median debt.
Northwest Mississippi Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general information science schools. Set in the town of Senatobia, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,740. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $9,990. Early-career general information science graduates make about $35,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Onondaga Community College landed the #9 spot for general information science value this year. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,102, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $11,555 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Onondaga Community College generally make around $31,342. Set against $11,555 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #10 position for value in general information science this year. Located in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,486. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $8,764. Early-career general information science graduates make about $57,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University placed #11 among the best values for general information science. Set in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,200. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $19,858 in student loans. General Information Science graduates of Potomac State College Of West Virginia University earn a median of $42,670 early in their careers. Set against $19,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rockland Community College came in at #12 for value in general information science this year. Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Suffern. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,862. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete the general information science program here. General Information Science graduates of Rockland Community College earn a median of $41,799 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,167 median debt.
Broome Community College earned the #13 position for value in general information science this year. Set in the suburb of Binghamton, Broome Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,624, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,830 to complete the general information science program here. Early-career general information science graduates make about $41,560. That is a strong return on a $16,830 median debt.
Clayton State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general information science schools. Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Morrow. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,180, compared with $16,532 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $35,925. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Clayton State University generally make around $43,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clayton State University admits about 68% of applicants.
Century College earned the #15 position for value in general information science this year. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $21,332. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,502. Set against $21,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Zane State College placed #16 among the best values for general information science. Zane State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Zanesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, compared with $11,766 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $7,668. Early-career general information science graduates make about $29,311. Set against $7,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bossier Parish Community College came in at #17 for value in general information science this year. Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bossier City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,268. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,593 in student loans. Early-career general information science graduates make about $43,661. Set against $20,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general information science schools. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,355 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $52,706. Set against $17,355 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Instituto Tecnologico De Puerto Rico Recinto De Manati ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value general information science schools. Instituto Tecnologico De Puerto Rico Recinto De Manati is a small public school located in the suburb of Manati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,900. Median earnings reach $26,293 ten years out. Instituto Tecnologico De Puerto Rico Recinto De Manati admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College placed #20 among the best values for general information science. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Ash. In-state tuition and fees average $7,106, compared with $15,904 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,125 to complete the general information science program here. Early-career general information science graduates make about $37,961. Set against $13,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Instituto Tecnologico De Puerto Rico Recinto De Guayama landed the #21 spot for general information science value this year. Instituto Tecnologico De Puerto Rico Recinto De Guayama is a small public school located in the city of Guayama. Students from in state pay about $1,608 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $26,293 ten years after entry. Instituto Tecnologico De Puerto Rico Recinto De Guayama admits about 79% of applicants.
Iti Technical College came in at #22 for value in general information science this year. Located in the suburb of Baton Rouge, Iti Technical College is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,711. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $19,110. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Iti Technical College generally make around $39,046. That is a strong return on a $19,110 median debt.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Information Science rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
