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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Information Science (Income $0-$30k)

109 Ranked Colleges
6,609 Degrees Awarded
$30,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value IS Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Information Science is the 56th most popular major in the country with 18,368 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $58,848 and had an average of $32,600 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 6,609 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 109 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in information science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great information science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the information science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Information Science Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Information Science (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 109 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 76 degrees to qualified masters’s IS students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Information Science at Northwestern University

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 15 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Information Science at Harvard University

#3

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johns Hopkins University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 75 diplomas to qualified masters’s IS students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, Johns Hopkins has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425.

Read more about Information Science at Johns Hopkins University

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 358 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Information Science at UIUC

Out of the 109 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 219 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Information Science at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

University of California - Berkeley landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 327 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Read full report on Information Science at University of California - Berkeley

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. UW Seattle is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 161 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW Seattle has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Information Science at UW Seattle

#8

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNC Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 59 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNC Chapel Hill has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Information Science Report

#9

Baruch College

New York, New York

With a ranking of #9, Baruch College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 1 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, Baruch has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Baruch are $20,880.

Full Baruch College Information Science Report

With a ranking of #10, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. USF Tampa is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 21 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126.

Read full report on Information Science at University of South Florida - Main Campus

#11

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland

With a ranking of #11, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Maryland - College Park is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 masters’s IS degrees to qualified students.

UMCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UMCP Information Science Report

#12

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York

With a ranking of #12, Brooklyn College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Brooklyn, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified masters’s IS students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952.

Read more about Information Science at Brooklyn College

#13

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 11 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CCNY are $20,832.

Read full report on Information Science at CCNY

#7 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 142 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Information Science at UT Austin

#15

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #15, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s IS degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Information Science at UMN Twin Cities

Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Rolla, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s IS students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943.

Read more about Information Science at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#17

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s IS degrees to 351 students in 2019-2020.

Boston U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666.

Full Boston U Information Science Report

Texas A & M University - Central Texas ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Killeen, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s IS degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A & M University - Central Texas are $13,561, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Information Science at Texas A & M University - Central Texas

#19

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State University is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 93 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707.

Full Florida State University Information Science Report

University of Maryland - Baltimore County did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. University of Maryland - Baltimore County is a fairly large public school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 142 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree is students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMBC has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - Baltimore County are $21,078, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Information Science at UMBC

#21

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#25 in overall quality

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Texas Tech University is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 68 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas Tech University Information Science Report

#22

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northern Kentucky University is a fairly large school located in Highland Heights, Kentucky that handed out 17 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NKU are $17,358.

Read more about Information Science at Northern Kentucky University

#23

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas

With a ranking of #23, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 175 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Information Science at Texas A&M University - College Station

The University of Texas at Dallas ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 413 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas also made our “Best Information Science Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UT Dallas Information Science Report

University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 27 masters’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Dearborn are $25,072, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Information Science Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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