2027 Best Value Data Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Data Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 57 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value data science schools.
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2027 Best Value Data Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the data science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Data Science Schools
For return on investment in data science, no school beat Florida Atlantic University this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $20,212. Data Science graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in data science will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $21,620. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for data science. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in data science will find it at Stanford University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in data science will find it at San Jose State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Portland State University earned the #6 position for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Data Science graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Data Science graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Saint Peters College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Set in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,552. Data Science graduates carry a median of $22,969 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $50,944. That is a strong return on a $22,969 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #8 among the best values for data science. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Data Science graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Data Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Houston Downtown earned the #9 position for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,582, compared with $17,434 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $23,925 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Houston Downtown generally make around $46,298. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of California Davis landed the #10 spot for data science value this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $14,404. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University earned the #11 position for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Data Science graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Data Science graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $55,876 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Arizona University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value data science schools. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $21,645. Early-career data science graduates make about $47,056. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #13 spot for data science value this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Data Science graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. That is a strong return on a $22,754 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #14 among the best values for data science. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $21,632. Early-career data science graduates make about $55,304. Set against $21,632 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #15 for value in data science this year. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Students borrow a median of $24,755 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $71,549. Set against $24,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of North Texas came in at #16 for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $21,817. Early-career data science graduates make about $49,157. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Phoenix Arizona earned the #17 position for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,552 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,323 to complete the data science program here. Data Science graduates of University Of Phoenix Arizona earn a median of $60,453 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,323 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #18 position for value in data science this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the data science program here. Data Science graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #19 among the best values for data science. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Data Science graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Data Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Arizona landed the #20 spot for data science value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $21,861. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #21 for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $24,673. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $51,799. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
William Jewell College placed #22 among the best values for data science. William Jewell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Liberty. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,610. Students borrow a median of $25,950 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $48,588. That is a strong return on a $25,950 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #23 position for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,644, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $20,531 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $58,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
Bellevue University earned the #24 position for value in data science this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,873. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete the data science program here. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $61,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #25 for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Data Science graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $49,755. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Data Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s data science value ranking:
Other Data Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value data science schools at other degree levels:
View All Data Science Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 57 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 57 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.
