[Information Technology](/majors/computer-information-sciences/it-information-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for information technology students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in information technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Joliet Junior College earned the #1 spot for value among information technology schools in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the information technology program here. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value information technology schools. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Early-career information technology graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value information technology schools. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $8,099. Early-career information technology graduates make about $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.
Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value information technology schools. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Information Technology graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spoon River College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Canton, Spoon River College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $6,090 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,386 ten years after entry.
Triton College placed #6 among the best values for information technology. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. In-state tuition and fees average $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $12,994. Information Technology graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College earned the #7 position for value in information technology this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $7,727. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prairie State College landed the #8 spot for information technology value this year. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, while out-of-state students pay about $11,064. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $15,663. Early-career information technology graduates make about $37,500. Set against $15,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage landed the #9 spot for information technology value this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $7,938. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Set against $7,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College came in at #10 for value in information technology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $8,093. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $33,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value information technology schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Parkland College came in at #12 for value in information technology this year. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $4,284, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $10,168. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Parkland College generally make around $40,409. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Springfield landed the #13 spot for information technology value this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $21,677 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $53,344. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern Illinois College placed #14 among the best values for information technology. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $10,388. Early-career information technology graduates make about $46,355. Set against $10,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value information technology schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $8,478 in student loans. Information Technology graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earn a median of $25,842 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,478 median debt.
Harper College earned the #16 position for value in information technology this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Waubonsee Community College placed #17 among the best values for information technology. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,504, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,939 to complete the information technology program here. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $39,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College came in at #18 for value in information technology this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Information Technology graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earn a median of $48,264 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,250 median debt.
Governors State University came in at #19 for value in information technology this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the information technology program here. Information Technology graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $51,711 early in their careers. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Heartland Community College earned the #20 position for value in information technology this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $13,110. Students borrow a median of $13,266 to complete the information technology program here. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
National Louis University came in at #21 for value in information technology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Early-career information technology graduates make about $53,733. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #22 position for value in information technology this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete the information technology program here. Early-career information technology graduates make about $43,603. Set against $24,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #23 among the best values for information technology. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $17,600. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $49,254. That is a strong return on a $17,600 median debt. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Lewis University came in at #24 for value in information technology this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the information technology program here. Early-career information technology graduates make about $65,443. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #25 spot for information technology value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $26,774. Early-career information technology graduates make about $71,315. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for information technology this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 33 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.
