2021 Best Information Science Schools
Finding the Best Information Science School for You
Information Science is the #68 most popular major in the country with 17,779 degrees and certificates awarded in 2018-2019.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Information Science Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 215 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best programs for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2021 Best Information Science Schools in the United States
Check out the IS programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 25 Top Schools in IS
Our 2021 rankings named Harvard University the best school in the United States for information science students. Harvard is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Cambridge.
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The excellent programs at James Madison University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best information science schools in the United States. JMU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Harrisonburg.
Full Information Science at James Madison University Report
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Norwich University is a great place for information science students. Located in the town of Northfield, Norwich is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Full Information Science at Norwich University Report
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The excellent programs at Johns Hopkins University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best information science schools in the United States. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #5 on our 2021 Best Information Science Schools list. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public school located in the city of Berkeley.
On average, IS graduates from UC Berkeley take out $48,258 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $562, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Information Science at University of California - Berkeley
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Pennsylvania State University - Great Valley came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Information Science Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Malvern, Penn State Great Valley is a public school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, IS graduates from Penn State Great Valley carry an average student debtload of $40,949. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $477, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Information Science at Pennsylvania State University - Great Valley Report
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Pennsylvania State University - World Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for information science students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the rural area of University Park, Penn State World Campus is a public college with a fairly small student population.
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Boston College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for information science students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the small city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, IS majors at Boston College accumulate an average of around $16,500 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $171.
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Pennsylvania State University - Dubois did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for information science students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the remote town of DuBois, Penn State DuBois is a public college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, IS majors at Penn State DuBois accumulate an average of around $25,798 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $268.
Read full report on Information Science at Pennsylvania State University - Dubois
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Northwestern University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Information Science Schools list. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern U is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
On average, IS graduates from Northwestern U take out $31,259 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $355, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #11, Syracuse University did quite well on this year’s best schools for information science students. Syracuse is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Syracuse.
IS majors at Syracuse take out an average of $34,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $379.
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Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for information science students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Full Information Science at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Report
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With a ranking of #13, Boston University did quite well on this year’s best schools for information science students. Boston U is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston.
After completing their degree, IS graduates from Boston U carry an average student debtload of $34,087. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $397.
Full Information Science at Boston University Report
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University of Maryland - College Park landed the #14 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best information science programs. Located in the suburb of College Park, UMCP is a public school with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, IS graduates from UMCP carry an average student debtload of $18,653. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $194.
Full Information Science at University of Maryland - College Park Report
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Pennsylvania State University - Mont Alto did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for information science students. It came in at #15 on the list. Penn State Mont Alto is a small public school located in the town of Mont Alto.
IS majors at Penn State Mont Alto take out an average of $25,798 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $268.
Full Information Science at Pennsylvania State University - Mont Alto Report
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University of Massachusetts - Lowell landed the #16 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best information science programs. UMass Lowell is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Lowell.
IS majors at UMass Lowell take out an average of $23,585 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $244.
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Pennsylvania State University - University Park did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for information science students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the small city of University Park, Penn State University Park is a public school with a very large student population.
IS majors at Penn State University Park take out an average of $30,848 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $337.
Full Information Science at Pennsylvania State University - University Park Report
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Southern Methodist University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Information Science Schools ranking. SMU is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Dallas.
Read full report on Information Science at Southern Methodist University
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Texas Tech University landed the #19 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best information science programs. Texas Tech is a fairly large public school located in the city of Lubbock.
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Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington landed the #20 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best information science programs. Penn State New Kensington is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of New Kensington.
While working on their degree, IS majors at Penn State New Kensington accumulate an average of around $25,798 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $268.
Read full report on Information Science at Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington
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With a ranking of #21, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign did quite well on this year’s best schools for information science students. UIUC is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Champaign.
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University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Information Science Schools list. USF Tampa is a fairly large public school located in the city of Tampa.
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Pennsylvania State University - Hazleton ranked #23 on this year’s Best Information Science Schools list. Penn State Hazleton is a fairly small public school located in the small suburb of Hazleton.
After completing their degree, IS graduates from Penn State Hazleton carry an average student debtload of $25,798. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $268.
Read full report on Information Science at Pennsylvania State University - Hazleton
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Pennsylvania State University - Wilkes - Barre ranked #24 on this year’s Best Information Science Schools list. Penn State Wilkes - Barre is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Lehman.
IS majors at Penn State Wilkes - Barre take out an average of $25,798 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $268.
Full Information Science at Pennsylvania State University - Wilkes - Barre Report
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Pennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny ranked #25 on this year’s Best Information Science Schools list. Located in the large suburb of McKeesport, Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, IS graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny carry an average student debtload of $26,726. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $277.
Full Information Science at Pennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny Report
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Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Information Science Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Pennsylvania State University - Berks | Reading, PA |
| 34 | Pennsylvania State University - Beaver | Monaca, PA |
| 35 | Bowie State University | Bowie, MD |
| 36 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 37 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | Rolla, MO |
| 38 | Hudson Valley Community College | Troy, NY |
| 39 | Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg | Middletown, PA |
| 40 | Pennsylvania State University - Abington | Abington, PA |
| 41 | University of Maryland - University College | Adelphi, MD |
| 42 | New York University | New York, NY |
| 43 | Pennsylvania State University - Lehigh Valley | Center Valley, PA |
Information Science by Region
View the Best Information Science Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Rankings in Majors Related to IS
Information Science is one of 10 different types of programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to IS
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer Information Systems | 76,482 |
| Computer Science | 47,906 |
| Information Technology | 33,399 |
| Computer Systems Networking | 14,055 |
| Computer Software & Applications | 12,793 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to The Opte Project.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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