[Computer & Information Sciences](/majors/computer-information-sciences/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 103 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value computer & information sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in computer & information sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Lorain County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools in Ohio. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Computer & Information Sciences 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.
Students looking for strong value in computer & information sciences will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #2. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $17,816 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $45,772. That is a strong return on a $17,816 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Cuyahoga Community College District one of the best values for computer & information sciences. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $17,629. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $34,086. That is a strong return on a $17,629 median debt.
North Central State College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. 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. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $12,236. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $47,458. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Cincinnati State Technical And Community College one of the best values for computer & information sciences. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,020 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $50,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College placed #6 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $9,041. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College earned the #7 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $6,881. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $22,525 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earned the #8 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $13,125. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Clermont College generally make around $39,106. That is a strong return on a $13,125 median debt.
Belmont College placed #9 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Set in the rural area of St Clairsville, Belmont College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,698, compared with $7,200 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $20,524. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Belmont College earn a median of $58,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,524 median debt.
Lakeland Community College came in at #10 for value in computer & information sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,872, while out-of-state students pay about $9,235. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $51,941. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State Community College earned the #11 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Piqua. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,499, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,406 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Edison State Community College generally make around $43,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College placed #12 among the best values for computer & information sciences. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Ash. In-state tuition and fees average $7,106, compared with $15,904 for out-of-state students. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,125 in student loans. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $37,961 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,125 median debt.
Zane State College landed the #13 spot for computer & information sciences value this year. Located in the town of Zanesville, Zane State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,766. Students borrow a median of $7,668 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Zane State College earn a median of $29,311 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
James A Rhodes State College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. James A Rhodes State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Lima. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,120 for out-of-state students. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,070 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $47,074. Set against $17,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Ohio Technical College landed the #15 spot for computer & information sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,256, with out-of-state students paying around $8,016. Students borrow a median of $16,779 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Central Ohio Technical College generally make around $41,832. That is a strong return on a $16,779 median debt.
Kent State University At Trumbull came in at #16 for value in computer & information sciences this year. Kent State University At Trumbull is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Warren. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, compared with $17,969 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $20,729. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $38,560. That is a strong return on a $20,729 median debt.
Kent State University At Stark placed #17 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Kent State University At Stark is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,211 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,969. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,243 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $37,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owens Community College earned the #18 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,870, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,383 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Owens Community College generally make around $45,785. That is a strong return on a $19,383 median debt.
Kent State University At Geauga ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. Kent State University At Geauga is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Burton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, with out-of-state students paying around $17,969. Students borrow a median of $20,729 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $41,856. Set against $20,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Youngstown State University landed the #20 spot for computer & information sciences value this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $30,730. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $39,728 early in their careers. Set against $30,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Southern State Community College placed #21 among the best values for computer & information sciences. Located in the town of Hillsboro, Southern State Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,912, while out-of-state students pay about $10,818. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,282 in student loans. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $45,611. That is a strong return on a $15,282 median debt.
Miami University Hamilton earned the #22 position for value in computer & information sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,012 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,811. Computer & Information Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,347 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer & information sciences degree recipients from Miami University Hamilton generally make around $66,030. That is a strong return on a $26,347 median debt.
Terra State Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value computer & information sciences schools. Set in the rural area of Fremont, Terra State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,544. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $24,070. Computer & Information Sciences graduates of Terra State Community College earn a median of $63,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,070 median debt.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #24 for value in computer & information sciences this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer & information sciences graduates is $23,000. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $82,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #25 spot for computer & information sciences value this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Students borrow a median of $27,713 to complete the computer & information sciences program here. Early-career computer & information sciences graduates make about $50,086. That is a strong return on a $27,713 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s computer & information sciences value ranking:
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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 · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
