[Computer & Information Sciences](/majors/computer-information-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 63 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value computer & information sciences schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the computer & information sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $11,995. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Valley Community College earned it the #2 place for computer & information sciences. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $11,149. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in computer & information sciences will find it at Illinois Valley Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Lewis And Clark Community College one of the best values for computer & information sciences. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $9,602. Computer & Information Sciences 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.
A rank of #5 makes Carl Sandburg College one of the best values for computer & information sciences. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. Students from in state pay about $5,390 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $8,604. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $48,534. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spoon River College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. 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, compared with $13,500 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,386.
Oakton Community College landed the #7 spot for computer & information sciences value this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,985, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College came in at #8 for value in computer & information sciences this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $12,994. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College placed #9 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage placed #10 among the best values for computer & information sciences. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,032 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $45,016 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,032 median debt.
Rock Valley College landed the #11 spot for computer & information sciences value this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,236 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $41,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Prairie State College earned the #12 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. That is a strong return on a $15,663 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned the #13 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $34,691. That is a strong return on a $8,093 median debt.
Mchenry County College earned the #14 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $7,440. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County earned the #15 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $9,785. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $50,314. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $16,813 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $84,171 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,813 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College came in at #17 for value in computer & information sciences this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Parkland College earned the #18 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Set in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,284, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $40,409 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Springfield placed #19 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Students borrow a median of $21,849 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $91,164. That is a strong return on a $21,849 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earned the #20 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Located in the town of Olney, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,260, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Students borrow a median of $9,434 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $38,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College placed #21 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #22 for value in computer & information sciences this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $46,355. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Waubonsee Community College earned the #23 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Waubonsee Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,504, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $9,939 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $39,659. That is a strong return on a $9,939 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College placed #24 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $8,478 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $25,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College placed #25 among the best values for computer & information sciences. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King 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. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $48,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in computer & information sciences:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 63 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 63 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.
