[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general information science schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general information science degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in general information science, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. General Information Science graduates carry a median of $13,294 in student loans. Early-career general information science graduates make about $72,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general information science schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $42,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in general information science will find it at North Carolina Central University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,173 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $55,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
More General Information Science Rankings
View All General Information Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
