[Information Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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.
Our analysis ranked Northern Kentucky University the best value for a degree in information science in Kentucky. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Information Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $58,512. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Students looking for strong value in information science will find it at University Of The Cumberlands, which ranked #2. 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. Information Science graduates carry a median of $22,868 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $50,547. Set against $22,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Kentucky is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $26,026 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $49,165. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 2 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.
