[Information Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 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.
For return on investment in information science, no school beat Arkansas State University Mountain Home this year. Located in the town of Mountain Home, Arkansas State University Mountain Home is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,312, with out-of-state students paying around $4,776. Students borrow a median of $18,097 to complete the information science program here. Early-career information science graduates make about $39,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grantham University earned it the #2 place for information science. Set in the city of LIttle Rock, Grantham University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,520. Information Science graduates carry a median of $30,600 in student loans. Information Science graduates of Grantham University earn a median of $58,712 early in their careers. Set against $30,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Arkansas At Little Rock one of the best values for information science. Set in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,911, with out-of-state students paying around $22,721. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earn a median of $48,964 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harding University earned it the #4 place for information science. Set in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,962. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete the information science program here. Information Science graduates of Harding University earn a median of $53,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
