[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment 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.
For return on investment in information science, no school beat Alabama State University this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $31,993. Early-career information science graduates make about $30,651. That is a strong return on a $31,993 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Alabama earned it the #2 place for information science. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $30,550. Information Science graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $56,344 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,550 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Alabama At Birmingham one of the best values for information science. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public school located in the city of Birmingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $26,162. Information Science graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $55,413 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,162 median debt. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
