2026 Best Value Computer & IS Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Computer & IS Security](/majors/computer-information-sciences/it-information-technology/computer-is-security/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 164 schools to find the best return on investment for computer & is security students.
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2026 Best Value Computer & IS Security Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in computer & is security, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Computer & IS Security Schools
Leading the list is Moraine Valley Community College, our #1 best value for computer & is security in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the computer & is security program here. Soon after graduation, computer & is security degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Henry Ford Community College one of the best values for computer & is security. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $18,876 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer & is security degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College one of the best values for computer & is security. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for computer & is security graduates is $8,093. Soon after graduation, computer & is security degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $33,073. That is a strong return on a $8,093 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Lewis And Clark Community College one of the best values for computer & is security. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $41,313. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College one of the best values for computer & is security. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer & is security graduates is $7,500. Computer & Is Security graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earn a median of $33,326 early in their careers. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #6 for value in computer & is security this year. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Computer & Is Security graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & is security schools. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Computer & Is Security graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,636 median debt.
Lorain County Community College landed the #8 spot for computer & is security value this year. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. In-state tuition and fees average $4,265, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Typical student debt for computer & is security graduates is $17,611. Computer & Is Security graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central State College came in at #9 for value in computer & is security this year. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,786, while out-of-state students pay about $11,374. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $12,236 in student loans. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $47,458. Set against $12,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College landed the #10 spot for computer & is security value this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the computer & is security program here. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $38,758. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College landed the #11 spot for computer & is security value this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for computer & is security graduates is $11,995. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Lansing Community College placed #12 among the best values for computer & is security. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Computer & Is Security graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Oakland Community College came in at #13 for value in computer & is security this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $43,205. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
Elgin Community College came in at #14 for value in computer & is security this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer & is security graduates is $7,727. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
College Of Dupage came in at #15 for value in computer & is security this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Students borrow a median of $7,938 to complete the computer & is security program here. Computer & Is Security graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Set against $7,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College came in at #16 for value in computer & is security this year. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $14,075 in student loans. Computer & Is Security graduates of Delta College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,075 median debt.
Sinclair Community College earned the #17 position for value in computer & is security this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the computer & is security program here. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe County Community College earned the #18 position for value in computer & is security this year. Located in the rural area of Monroe, Monroe County Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,759, with out-of-state students paying around $8,267. Students borrow a median of $16,031 to complete the computer & is security program here. Computer & Is Security graduates of Monroe County Community College earn a median of $47,729 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waubonsee Community College earned the #19 position for value in computer & is security this year. Waubonsee Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. Students from in state pay about $3,504 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $9,939 in student loans. Computer & Is Security graduates of Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $39,659 early in their careers. Set against $9,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Schoolcraft College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & is security schools. Schoolcraft College is a large public school located in the city of Livonia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,677 to complete the computer & is security program here. Computer & Is Security graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $46,283 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,677 median debt.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #21 spot for computer & is security value this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Typical student debt for computer & is security graduates is $10,388. Soon after graduation, computer & is security degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $46,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & is security schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for computer & is security graduates is $10,250. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $48,264. That is a strong return on a $10,250 median debt.
Kishwaukee College earned the #23 position for value in computer & is security this year. Located in the rural area of Malta, Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $13,680 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,328 to complete the computer & is security program here. Soon after graduation, computer & is security degree recipients from Kishwaukee College generally make around $30,398. That is a strong return on a $10,328 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & is security schools. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Computer & Is Security graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Early-career computer & is security graduates make about $40,734. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spoon River College earned the #25 position for value in computer & is security this year. Spoon River College is a small public school located in the rural area of Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,090, with out-of-state students paying around $13,500. Median earnings reach $38,386 ten years out.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Computer & IS Security Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s computer & is security value ranking:
Narrow Computer & IS Security Schools by State
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 164 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 37 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.
