Information Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 467 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for information science students pursuing a degree.
Gain the specialized knowledge and critical-thinking skills required to begin a career in tech with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in information science. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 110 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $102,998. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 208 information science degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Information Science graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $88,515 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 101 information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $75,834. Typical student debt for the program is $13,294.
More information about a degree in information science from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 427 information science students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Maryland College Park came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 702 information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $70,344 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,180.
More information about a degree in information science from University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #6 for information science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 26 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University placed #7 among the best information science schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 146 information science degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Information Science graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $80,173 early in their careers. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,025 in student loans.
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Boston College came in at #8 for information science this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 19 information science degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $80,731. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
See the full information science program report for Boston College
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #9 spot for information science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 119 information science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Information Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $44,923 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
More information about a degree in information science from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Stony Brook University earned the #10 position for information science this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 81 information science students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $68,007. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in information science from Stony Brook University
George Washington University came in at #11 for information science this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 information science students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from George Washington University earn around $114,156 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
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San Jose State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 52 information science students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #13 spot for information science this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 11 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
More information about a degree in information science from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #14 spot for information science this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 385 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $56,360 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned the #15 position for information science this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. University Of Maryland Baltimore County graduates 69% of students within six years. About 214 information science degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland Baltimore County in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $63,334. Students borrow a median of $20,633 to complete this degree.
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Syracuse University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Syracuse University awarded about 151 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Syracuse University earn around $73,033 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,694 to complete this degree.
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University Of Utah earned the #17 position for information science this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 113 information science degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $70,833. Typical student debt for the program is $24,041.
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New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned the #18 position for information science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. New Jersey Institute Of Technology awarded about 61 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn around $61,739 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Elmhurst College earned the #19 position for information science this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 11 information science degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Graduates of the information science program make about $51,232 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete this degree.
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University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boulder. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 51 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
See the full information science program report for University Of Colorado Boulder
Clemson University placed #21 among the best information science schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Clemson University awarded about 31 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Information Science graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $76,549 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,964.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington earned the #22 position for information science this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 193 information science degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Graduates of the information science program make about $57,756 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,205 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #23 among the best information science schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 91 information science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
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University Of California Riverside earned the #24 position for information science this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 52 information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $76,090 in their early career. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $24,417 in student loans.
See the full information science program report for University Of California Riverside
Wayne State University came in at #25 for information science this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. About 58% of students finish within six years. Wayne State University awarded about 25 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $55,469 in their early career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans.
More information about a degree in information science from Wayne State University
Rest of the Top 50 Information Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for information science this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 467 schools evaluated.
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).
