[Information Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong information science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 467 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for information science students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in information science, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in information science, no school beat Texas A And M University Central Texas this year. Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Killeen. Students from in state pay about $7,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $23,160. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $50,370. The acceptance rate is 100%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M International University earned it the #2 place for information science. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,894, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $15,095 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $42,029. Set against $15,095 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Students looking for strong value in information science will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #3. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Information Science graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $72,247. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for information science. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $16,481. Information Science graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $114,662 early in their careers. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston Victoria earned it the #5 place for information science. Located in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,149, compared with $16,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,081 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Houston Victoria generally make around $47,345. Set against $24,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston Victoria admits about 96% of applicants.
Northern Kentucky University earned the #6 position for value in information science this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $85,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Houston Clear Lake ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,346, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $51,252. That is a strong return on a $21,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #8 position for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $175,482. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
Florida State University placed #9 among the best values for information science. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $48,254. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of The Cumberlands landed the #10 spot for information science value this year. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,875 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,868 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $50,547 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
Lamar University landed the #11 spot for information science value this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,905, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $26,988. Information Science graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah placed #12 among the best values for information science. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Information Science graduates carry a median of $24,041 in student loans. Information Science graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $93,745 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #13 among the best values for information science. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Information Science graduates carry a median of $13,294 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $68,374. That is a strong return on a $13,294 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras landed the #14 spot for information science value this year. Located in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,324. Information Science graduates carry a median of $5,673 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras generally make around $24,881. That is a strong return on a $5,673 median debt. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #15 spot for information science value this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. 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. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #16 spot for information science value this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $25,750. Early-career information science graduates make about $65,393. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #17 position for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Information Science graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $73,887 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha placed #18 among the best values for information science. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $21,147. Early-career information science graduates make about $100,801. That is a strong return on a $21,147 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Houston placed #19 among the best values for information science. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Information Science graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $57,529. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #20 for value in information science this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,180 in student loans. Information Science graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $70,344 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #21 for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $44,923. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College landed the #22 spot for information science value this year. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $20,806. Information Science graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $95,119 early in their careers. Set against $20,806 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #23 for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $20,205. Early-career information science graduates make about $57,756. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $21,813. Information Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Delaware earned the #25 position for value in information science this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Information Science graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in information science:
Explore the best-value information science schools at other degree levels:
View All Information Science Rankings >
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 · 467 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 73 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.
