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Featured Information Science Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AS in Information Technologies
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.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the information science degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in information science, no school beat University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Information Science graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Information Science graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $114,662 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of California Riverside is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Students borrow a median of $24,417 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $76,090. That is a strong return on a $24,417 median debt. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Jose State University earned it the #3 place for information science. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Information Science graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Information Science graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $175,482 early in their careers. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Avtec Alaskas Institute Of Technology earned it the #5 place for information science. Set in the rural area of Seward, Avtec Alaskas Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. Early-career information science graduates make about $38,191.
Western Oregon University earned the #6 position for value in information science this year. Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Monmouth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,514, compared with $32,169 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,166 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of Western Oregon University earn a median of $39,320 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
California Lutheran University earned the #7 position for value in information science this year. California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,560. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $22,727. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from California Lutheran University generally make around $53,271. Set against $22,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Lutheran University admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Southern California earned the #8 position for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Seattle University earned the #9 position for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,721. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $22,289. Information Science graduates of Seattle University earn a median of $63,214 early in their careers. Set against $22,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
[Information Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
