2026 Best Value Computer Science Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Computer Science certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1091 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Computer Science Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Lake Area Technical Institute to be the best-value Computer Science school in the United States. Located in Watertown, SD, Lake Area Technical Institute is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,718. Graduates carry a median of $12,458 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,473 ten years after entry. Set against $12,458 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Lake Area Technical Institute
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. This public school is set in Akron, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. University Of Akron Main Campus Computer Science students take on a median of $25,347 in debt. University Of Akron Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $46,600 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 60%. Read more about University Of Akron Main Campus
You'll get strong value at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in Springfield, MO. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. The median Computer Science program debt is $21,719. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants. More on Missouri State University Springfield
Saint Martins University came in at #4 on this year's best-value Computer Science ranking in the United States. Saint Martins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lacey, WA. In-state tuition and fees average $45,510. Students borrow a median of $14,667 to complete their Computer Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,092 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 90% of those who apply are admitted. More on Saint Martins University
Out of the 1091 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Lord Fairfax Community College landed the #5 spot. Based in Middletown, VA, Lord Fairfax Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Students borrow a median of $10,698 to complete their Computer Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,000 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,698 median debt. Read more about Lord Fairfax Community College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $54,810 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
Georgia State University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,384. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. About 55% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Georgia State University
Boise State University placed #8 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Set in Boise, ID, Boise State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. The median Computer Science program debt is $27,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boise State University has an acceptance rate of 87%. Read more about Boise State University
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Arlington, TX, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. The median Computer Science program debt is $19,500. The University Of Texas At Arlington alumni report median earnings of $63,199 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%. Read more about The University Of Texas At Arlington
Xavier University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Cincinnati, OH, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,425. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $64,873. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Xavier University has an acceptance rate of 86%. More on Xavier University
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public school based in Boston, MA. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. The median Computer Science program debt is $26,236. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,865 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants. More on University Of Massachusetts Boston
Cochise College
Cochise College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read more about Cochise College
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #13 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. See the full Long Island University C W Post Campus profile
Rider University
Rider University landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Rider University report
Champlain College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Champlain College profile
Columbia Basin College placed #17 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Get the full Columbia Basin College report
Harvard University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. See the full Harvard University profile
Metropolitan State College Of Denver offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on Metropolitan State College Of Denver
Morgan State University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on Morgan State University
Saint Thomas University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on Saint Thomas University
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Rochester offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on University Of Rochester
University Of The Virgin Islands placed #24 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. More on University Of The Virgin Islands
Anderson University Indiana came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. More on Anderson University Indiana
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Computer Science Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Bob Jones University placed #26 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. More on Bob Jones University
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. More on Cabrillo College
Carleton College
Carleton College landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Carleton College
Franklin College
Franklin College placed #29 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Franklin College
Maharishi University Of Management offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. More on Maharishi University Of Management
Monterey Peninsula College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Monterey Peninsula College
Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Northwestern College Minnesota profile
Oral Roberts University landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Oral Roberts University profile
Taylor University came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Taylor University
Wake Forest University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Wake Forest University profile
Wesleyan University placed #36 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Wesleyan University
Finger Lakes Community College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Finger Lakes Community College
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Gustavus Adolphus College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Ithaca College
Sattler College
Sattler College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read more about Sattler College
University Of Memphis placed #41 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Memphis
Washington University In St Louis placed #42 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. See the full Washington University In St Louis profile
Arapahoe Community College placed #43 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. More on Arapahoe Community College
Beloit College
Beloit College placed #44 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Beloit College
Carnegie Mellon University offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Carnegie Mellon University
Eckerd College
Eckerd College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. More on Eckerd College
Edmonds Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about Edmonds Community College
Gettysburg College landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Gettysburg College profile
Haverford College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on Haverford College
La Sierra University offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. See the full La Sierra University profile
Related Computer Science Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Computer Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Computer Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1091 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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