[Data Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 133 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value data science schools.
Finding the Best Value Data Science School for You
The right data science school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Data Science Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Data Science Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, our #1 best value for data science in the United States. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California San Diego earned it the #2 place for data science. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $17,101. Early-career data science graduates make about $60,797. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the data science program here. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. That is a strong return on a $20,488 median debt. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in data science will find it at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $20,212. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $49,340. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #5 place for data science. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $13,287. Early-career data science graduates make about $43,853. That is a strong return on a $13,287 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University earned the #6 position for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Data Science graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Data Science graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida landed the #7 spot for data science value this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $21,620. Early-career data science graduates make about $51,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
St Petersburg College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Data Science graduates carry a median of $24,385 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $48,218. Set against $24,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stanford University landed the #9 spot for data science value this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $10,492. Data Science graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
San Jose State University landed the #10 spot for data science value this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #11 position for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Data Science graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #12 among the best values for data science. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $46,748. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College earned the #13 position for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $11,967. Data Science graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montgomery College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, with out-of-state students paying around $14,250. Students borrow a median of $11,230 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $24,833. Set against $11,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Houston Victoria earned the #15 position for value in data science this year. University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,149, with out-of-state students paying around $16,941. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $24,081. Data Science graduates of University Of Houston Victoria earn a median of $47,345 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston Victoria admits about 96% of applicants.
Michigan Technological University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete the data science program here. Data Science graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #17 for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Data Science graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Christian Brothers University earned the #18 position for value in data science this year. Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Students from in state pay about $38,420 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,416 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $51,040. Set against $32,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Portland State University came in at #19 for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $47,717. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Truman State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $23,168. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $39,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #21 spot for data science value this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the data science program here. Data Science graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Saint Peters College came in at #22 for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,552 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,969 to complete the data science program here. Data Science graduates of Saint Peters College earn a median of $50,944 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
New College Of Florida ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Set in the city of Sarasota, New College Of Florida is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,916, with out-of-state students paying around $29,944. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $17,407. Early-career data science graduates make about $26,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston Downtown ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. University Of Houston Downtown is a large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,582, with out-of-state students paying around $17,434. Data Science graduates carry a median of $23,925 in student loans. Data Science graduates of University Of Houston Downtown earn a median of $46,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #25 among the best values for data science. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Data Science graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Data Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s data science value ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 133 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 133 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).
[Data Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
