[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.
College Factual analyzed 63 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value information science schools.
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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.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #1 spot for value among information science schools in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, while out-of-state students pay about $15,414. Students borrow a median of $10,673 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $51,864 early in their careers. Set against $10,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for information science. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $13,303. Early-career information science graduates make about $49,688. Set against $13,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Lehman College one of the best values for information science. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $15,729. Information Science graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $50,133 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,729 median debt. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in information science will find it at Cuny New York City College Of Technology, which ranked #4. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,332, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $12,289 in student loans. 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.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, compared with $11,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $8,942. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $38,906. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #6 among the best values for information science. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $14,688 median debt. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Monroe Community College landed the #7 spot for information science value this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Students borrow a median of $12,921 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $38,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Medgar Evers College came in at #8 for value in information science this year. Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Brooklyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,352, with out-of-state students paying around $15,302. Students borrow a median of $12,531 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of Cuny Medgar Evers College earn a median of $43,434 early in their careers. Set against $12,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Niagara County Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, with out-of-state students paying around $12,030. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $13,970. Information Science graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of $36,258 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Onondaga Community College landed the #10 spot for information science value this year. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,102, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. Students borrow a median of $11,555 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $31,342. Set against $11,555 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rockland Community College earned the #11 position for value in information science this year. Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Suffern. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fulton Montgomery Community College came in at #12 for value in information science this year. Fulton Montgomery Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Johnstown. In-state tuition and fees average $6,198, compared with $6,798 for out-of-state students. 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.
Dutchess Community College placed #13 among the best values for information science. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $10,670. Students borrow a median of $11,836 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of Dutchess Community College earn a median of $32,978 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Westchester Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Students from in state pay about $5,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,486 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,764 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $57,520. Set against $8,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred placed #15 among the best values for information science. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alfred. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,892, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $19,721 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $43,831. Set against $19,721 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred admits about 76% of applicants.
Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome placed #16 among the best values for information science. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Utica. Students from in state pay about $8,625 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,215 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $21,056. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome generally make around $54,009. Set against $21,056 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Buffalo ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Students borrow a median of $25,651 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $49,686. That is a strong return on a $25,651 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Stony Brook University came in at #18 for value in information science this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $68,007. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Suny College At Oswego placed #19 among the best values for information science. Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oswego. Students from in state pay about $8,825 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,735. Information Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Information Science graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $50,862 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University At Buffalo ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $22,232. Information Science graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny At Albany ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $42,523. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,567 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $20,691. Early-career information science graduates make about $51,766. Set against $20,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Binghamton admits about 39% of applicants.
Le Moyne College came in at #24 for value in information science this year. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,330 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $25,739. Early-career information science graduates make about $57,229. That is a strong return on a $25,739 median debt. Le Moyne College admits about 83% of applicants.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #25 among the best values for information science. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Information Science graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $63,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
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. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 63 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
