[General Information Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/general-information-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general information science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 63 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general information science schools.
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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 Cuny Bernard M Baruch College this year. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $10,673 in student loans. Early-career general information science graduates make about $51,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Brooklyn College earned it the #2 place for general information science. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $13,303. General Information Science graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $49,688 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,303 median debt. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Lehman College one of the best values for general information science. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,729 to complete the general information science program here. Early-career general information science graduates make about $50,133. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny New York City College Of Technology one of the best values for general information science. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $12,289 in student loans. Early-career general information science graduates make about $45,790. Set against $12,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hudson Valley Community College earned it the #5 place for general information science. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,796, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #6 for value in general information science 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, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $14,688. Early-career general information science graduates make about $51,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Monroe Community College landed the #7 spot for general information science value this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Students borrow a median of $12,921 to complete the general information science program here. Early-career general information science graduates make about $38,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Medgar Evers College landed the #8 spot for general information science value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,352, while out-of-state students pay about $15,302. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $12,531. Early-career general information science graduates make about $43,434. That is a strong return on a $12,531 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Niagara County Community College placed #9 among the best values for general information science. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,894, with out-of-state students paying around $12,030. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $13,970. Early-career general information science graduates make about $36,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Onondaga Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general information science schools. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $11,555 in student loans. Early-career general information science graduates make about $31,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rockland Community College came in at #11 for value in general information science this year. Located in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Fulton Montgomery Community College came in at #12 for value in general information science this year. Set in the rural area of Johnstown, Fulton Montgomery Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,198, compared with $6,798 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $16,142. Early-career general information science graduates make about $38,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dutchess Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general information science schools. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,670 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,670. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $11,836. General Information Science graduates of Dutchess Community College earn a median of $32,978 early in their careers. Set against $11,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny Westchester Community College placed #14 among the best values for general information science. Set in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred landed the #15 spot for general information science value this year. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,892, while out-of-state students pay about $16,837. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $19,721. General Information Science graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. Set against $19,721 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred admits about 76% of applicants.
Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general information science schools. Located in the suburb of Utica, Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,625, while out-of-state students pay about $21,215. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $21,056. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome generally make around $54,009. That is a strong return on a $21,056 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #17 spot for general information science value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. Students borrow a median of $25,651 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $49,686. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University earned the #18 position for value in general information science this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Early-career general information science graduates make about $68,007. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Suny College At Oswego landed the #19 spot for general information science value this year. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,825, with out-of-state students paying around $18,735. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $27,000. General Information Science graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $50,862 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value general information science schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. General Information Science graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University At Buffalo ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value general information science schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $22,232. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny At Albany placed #22 among the best values for general information science. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $42,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #23 for value in general information science this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,766. Set against $20,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Le Moyne College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value general information science schools. Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Syracuse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,330. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $25,739. Early-career general information science graduates make about $57,229. Set against $25,739 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #25 spot for general information science value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $27,491. Early-career general information science graduates make about $63,515. That is a strong return on a $27,491 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general information science:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 63 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.
