by our College Data Analytics Team
[Information Technology](/majors/computer-information-sciences/it-information-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools to find the best return on investment for information technology students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the information technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in information technology, no school beat Century College this year. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $21,332 in student loans. Information Technology graduates of Century College earn a median of $47,502 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,332 median debt.
Riverland Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value information technology schools. Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,297. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. Information Technology graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Central College earned it the #3 place for information technology. South Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,146. Students borrow a median of $13,139 to complete the information technology program here. Early-career information technology graduates make about $46,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Hennepin Technical College one of the best values for information technology. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,998 to complete the information technology program here. Information Technology graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $46,775 early in their careers. Set against $20,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pine Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value information technology schools. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,738. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $22,454 in student loans. Early-career information technology graduates make about $44,905. Set against $22,454 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dakota County Technical College came in at #6 for value in information technology this year. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $15,327 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $49,173. Set against $15,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Cloud Technical And Community College earned the #7 position for value in information technology this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124. Students borrow a median of $16,734 to complete the information technology program here. Information Technology graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of $48,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,734 median debt.
Anoka Ramsey Community College earned the #8 position for value in information technology this year. Set in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,682. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $22,593 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Anoka Ramsey Community College generally make around $44,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for information technology value this year. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $6,326 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $17,650. Early-career information technology graduates make about $38,179. Set against $17,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Anoka Technical College earned the #10 position for value in information technology this year. Anoka Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Anoka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,267. Students borrow a median of $18,408 to complete the information technology program here. Early-career information technology graduates make about $44,529. That is a strong return on a $18,408 median debt.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned the #11 position for value in information technology this year. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $18,990. Early-career information technology graduates make about $39,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Cloud State University placed #12 among the best values for information technology. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the information technology program here. Early-career information technology graduates make about $56,987. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Lake Superior College landed the #13 spot for information technology value this year. Located in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the information technology program here. Information Technology graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $44,549 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,750 median debt.
Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #14 for value in information technology this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Information Technology graduates carry a median of $29,026 in student loans. Early-career information technology graduates make about $54,835. That is a strong return on a $29,026 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Capella University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value information technology schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $30,995. Early-career information technology graduates make about $101,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #16 spot for information technology value this year. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,199. Students borrow a median of $34,530 to complete the information technology program here. Information Technology graduates of Rasmussen College Minnesota earn a median of $50,864 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan State University placed #17 among the best values for information technology. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Typical student debt for information technology graduates is $42,396. Soon after graduation, information technology degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $54,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value information technology schools. Set in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete the information technology program here. Information Technology graduates of Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn a median of $69,785 early in their careers. Set against $27,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Dunwoody College Of Technology earned the #19 position for value in information technology this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,477. Students borrow a median of $18,973 to complete the information technology program here. Information Technology graduates of Dunwoody College Of Technology earn a median of $53,751 early in their careers. Set against $18,973 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.