[Computer & Information Sciences](/majors/computer-information-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for computer & information sciences students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in computer & information sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Alaska Fairbanks, our #1 best value for computer & information sciences in Alaska. University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public school located in the city of Fairbanks. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,083, with out-of-state students paying around $25,892. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,439 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from University Of Alaska Fairbanks generally make around $50,963. That is a strong return on a $23,439 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Avtec Alaskas Institute Of Technology earned it the #2 place for computer & information sciences. Avtec Alaskas Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the rural area of Seward. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $38,191.
University Of Alaska Anchorage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer & information sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Alaska Anchorage is a large public school located in the city of Anchorage. In-state tuition and fees average $7,738, while out-of-state students pay about $21,322. Students borrow a median of $40,742 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $59,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Charter College Anchorage came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. Set in the city of Anchorage, Charter College Anchorage is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,341. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $15,848. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Charter College Anchorage earn a median of $47,463 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,848 median debt.
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
