[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for information science students.
What’s on this page:
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 Oakton Community College this year. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $48,838 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #2 place for information science. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Students borrow a median of $17,629 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $45,238. That is a strong return on a $17,629 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,791 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $50,732 early in their careers. Set against $12,791 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Global earned it the #4 place for information science. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $36,778. Information Science graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $54,278 early in their careers. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Michigan Flint came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,236 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $31,875. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $44,184. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $101,914. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #7 for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Information Science graduates carry a median of $14,538 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $58,651. Set against $14,538 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College landed the #8 spot for information science value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Information Science graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #9 for value in information science this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $20,875. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $81,201. Set against $20,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University came in at #10 for value in information science this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $55,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $23,146. Early-career information science graduates make about $56,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Zane State College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Zane State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Zanesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, compared with $11,766 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $7,668 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $29,311. That is a strong return on a $7,668 median debt.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in information science this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $20,778. Early-career information science graduates make about $44,923. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University landed the #15 spot for information science value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Information Science graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $51,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #16 for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $17,589. Information Science graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $56,824 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,589 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #17 among the best values for information science. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $24,477. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $41,041. Set against $24,477 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $25,731. Information Science graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $64,346 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Ball State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $24,518. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $66,844. That is a strong return on a $24,518 median debt. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,176. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $47,735. That is a strong return on a $24,787 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #21 among the best values for information science. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $27,081. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $51,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $47,887 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University came in at #23 for value in information science this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $66,967. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $21,813. Early-career information science graduates make about $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #25 for value in information science this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s information science value ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 35 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.
