2026 Best Value Data Processing Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Data Processing certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 141 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile 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 Data Processing Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
El Centro College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. El Centro College is a public school based in Dallas, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,718 to complete their Data Processing program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,714 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about El Centro College
Out of the 141 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Athens Technical College landed the #2 spot. Set in Athens, GA, Athens Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,390, compared with $5,958 for out-of-state students. Typical Data Processing student debt is $9,500. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Athens Technical College report
A rank of #3 makes Georgia Piedmont Technical College one of the best values in the United States. Set in Clarkston, GA, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,404, compared with $5,954 for out-of-state students. Georgia Piedmont Technical College Data Processing students take on a median of $15,716 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $34,619. Set against $15,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Out of the 141 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Stark State College landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in North Canton, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete their Data Processing program here. Median earnings reach $34,661 ten years out. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Stark State College
You'll get strong value at Ferris State University, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Ferris State University Data Processing students take on a median of $23,562 in debt. Median earnings reach $54,735 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants. Get the full Ferris State University report
York Technical College placed #6 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Based in Rock Hill, SC, York Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,036, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Typical Data Processing student debt is $15,125. York Technical College alumni report median earnings of $37,257 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,125 median debt. Read more about York Technical College
Piedmont Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Piedmont Technical College is a public school based in Greenwood, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,775, while out-of-state students pay about $6,923. Students borrow a median of $17,652 to complete their Data Processing program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,768. That is a strong return on a $17,652 median debt. Read more about Piedmont Technical College
Community College Of Philadelphia landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Philadelphia, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,632, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. The median Data Processing program debt is $16,059. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,852. Set against $16,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Community College Of Philadelphia
Spartanburg Community College placed #8 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Based in Spartanburg, SC, Spartanburg Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,071, with out-of-state students paying around $10,135. Graduates carry a median of $10,148 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $37,097. That is a strong return on a $10,148 median debt. Read the full report on Spartanburg Community College
Horry Georgetown Technical College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public school based in Conway, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Typical Data Processing student debt is $16,500. Horry Georgetown Technical College alumni report median earnings of $35,507 a decade after entry. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Horry Georgetown Technical College
Greenville Technical College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Greenville, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,495, while out-of-state students pay about $10,775. Typical Data Processing student debt is $21,083. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,473 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Greenville Technical College profile
Central Carolina Technical College placed #12 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. This public school is set in Sumter, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $5,715, with out-of-state students paying around $9,016. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete their Data Processing program here. Central Carolina Technical College alumni report median earnings of $32,603 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. Get the full Central Carolina Technical College report
Midlands Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Midlands Technical College is a public school based in West Columbia, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,100, compared with $14,700 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,013 to complete their Data Processing program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,701. That is a strong return on a $14,013 median debt. Read the full report on Midlands Technical College
Technical College Of The Lowcountry offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Get the full Technical College Of The Lowcountry report
University Of Nevada Las Vegas offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas report
Williston State College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Williston State College report
Dickinson State University placed #17 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. More on Dickinson State University
Lamar Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. More on Lamar Institute Of Technology
Farmingdale State College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Farmingdale State College
Grays Harbor College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Grays Harbor College report
Lanier Technical College placed #21 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read the full report on Lanier Technical College
Lone Star College System offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Lone Star College System report
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Cuny Brooklyn College
Albany Technical College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Albany Technical College report
Clarkson University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full Clarkson University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Data Processing Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
University At Buffalo ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. More on University At Buffalo
Canisius College
Canisius College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Read more about Canisius College
Ocean County College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Ocean County College
Whatcom Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Whatcom Community College
Georgia Military College Milledgeville placed #30 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read the full report on Georgia Military College Milledgeville
Pratt Institute Main came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. More on Pratt Institute Main
Williamsburg Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Williamsburg Technical College profile
Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #33 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Get the full Missouri University Of Science And Technology report
Northeastern Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Northeastern Technical College
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #35 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Florence Darlington Technical College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Florence Darlington Technical College
Hennepin Technical College placed #38 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. More on Hennepin Technical College
Seattle Community College North Campus placed #39 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read the full report on Seattle Community College North Campus
New Mexico State University Grants came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Grants
Onondaga Community College placed #41 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Get the full Onondaga Community College report
Frederick Community College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. More on Frederick Community College
Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Wesleyan College profile
South Georgia Technical College came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. See the full South Georgia Technical College profile
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins
Sinte Gleska University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Get the full Sinte Gleska University report
Trident Technical College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Trident Technical College report
West Georgia Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Read the full report on West Georgia Technical College
Louisiana State University Eunice came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Louisiana State University Eunice
Delgado Community College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Read the full report on Delgado Community College
Related Data Processing Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Data Processing Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Data Processing Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 141 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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