[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 140 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for information science students.
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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.
Leading the list is Cuny Bernard M Baruch College, our #1 best value for information science in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,464, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $10,673 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $51,864. That is a strong return on a $10,673 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,332, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $12,289. Information Science graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $45,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,289 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $49,688. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Hudson Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,796, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $8,942. Early-career information science graduates make about $38,906. Set against $8,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Lehman College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Information Science graduates carry a median of $15,729 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $50,133. That is a strong return on a $15,729 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Monroe Community College came in at #6 for value in information science this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $12,921. Early-career information science graduates make about $38,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #7 among the best values for information science. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. In-state tuition and fees average $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Information Science graduates carry a median of $14,688 in student loans. Information Science graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $51,911 early in their careers. Set against $14,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Medgar Evers College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,352, while out-of-state students pay about $15,302. Students borrow a median of $12,531 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $43,434. That is a strong return on a $12,531 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Niagara County Community College placed #9 among the best values for information science. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,970 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $36,258. That is a strong return on a $13,970 median debt.
Onondaga Community College earned the #10 position for value in information science this year. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,392 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $11,555. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Onondaga Community College generally make around $31,342. That is a strong return on a $11,555 median debt.
Bucks County Community College placed #11 among the best values for information science. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Information Science graduates carry a median of $13,068 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Bucks County Community College generally make around $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #12 position for value in information science this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,180 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $70,344. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Rockland Community College landed the #13 spot for information science value this year. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,862. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $11,167. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Rockland Community College generally make around $41,799. That is a strong return on a $11,167 median debt.
Prince Georges Community College came in at #14 for value in information science this year. Set in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,034, while out-of-state students pay about $8,762. Information Science graduates carry a median of $13,949 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Prince Georges Community College generally make around $56,960. Set against $13,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny Westchester Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,948, while out-of-state students pay about $12,486. Information Science graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. Set against $8,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maryland University College earned the #16 position for value in information science this year. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,806 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $83,630. Set against $20,806 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dutchess Community College earned the #17 position for value in information science this year. Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,670, compared with $10,670 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $11,836. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Dutchess Community College generally make around $32,978. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fulton Montgomery Community College came in at #18 for value in information science this year. Set in the rural area of Johnstown, Fulton Montgomery Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,198, with out-of-state students paying around $6,798. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Fulton Montgomery Community College generally make around $38,591. Set against $16,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred came in at #19 for value in information science this year. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alfred. In-state tuition and fees average $8,892, while out-of-state students pay about $16,837. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $19,721. Information Science graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Delaware came in at #20 for value in information science this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. Set against $24,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome placed #21 among the best values for information science. Located in the suburb of Utica, Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,625 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,215. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $21,056. Early-career information science graduates make about $54,009. That is a strong return on a $21,056 median debt. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome admits about 81% of applicants.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned the #22 position for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $76,815 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Salisbury University landed the #23 spot for information science value this year. Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Students from in state pay about $11,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. Information Science graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Information Science graduates of Salisbury University earn a median of $61,290 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salisbury University admits about 88% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #24 spot for information science value this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Information Science graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $80,595. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #25 spot for information science value this year. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $25,651. Early-career information science graduates make about $49,686. Set against $25,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in information science:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 140 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 43 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.
