2026 Best Value Information Science Is Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Information Science Is certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 467 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Information Science Is Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Normandale Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Based in Bloomington, MN, Normandale Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,329 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $20,162 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,207 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,162 median debt. Read more about Normandale Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Ivy Tech Community College Information Science Is students take on a median of $12,791 in debt. Ivy Tech Community College alumni report median earnings of $37,186 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,791 median debt. See the full Ivy Tech Community College profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Cleveland, OH, Cuyahoga Community College District is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Students borrow a median of $17,629 to complete their Information Science Is program here. Cuyahoga Community College District alumni report median earnings of $35,654 a decade after entry. Set against $17,629 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Cuyahoga Community College District
Out of the 467 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Dakota State University landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Madison, SD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,654, compared with $12,756 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $29,318 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $50,970. That is a strong return on a $29,318 median debt. Dakota State University admits about 88% of applicants. More on Dakota State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Baltimore, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $13,256, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Graduates carry a median of $21,576 in student loans. Median earnings reach $69,960 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland Baltimore County has an acceptance rate of 72%. Read more about University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Arkansas Tech University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Russellville, AR, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Arkansas Tech University Information Science Is students take on a median of $23,257 in debt. Median earnings reach $41,766 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%. Read more about Arkansas Tech University
Florida Atlantic University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical Information Science Is student debt is $20,212. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 66% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Florida Atlantic University report
Radford University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Radford University is a public school based in Radford, VA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Graduates carry a median of $25,514 in student loans. Radford University alumni report median earnings of $53,739 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%. Read the full report on Radford University
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete their Information Science Is program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,198. That is a strong return on a $23,146 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%. Read the full report on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
University Of Richmond placed #10 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Located in University of Richmond, VA, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,230. University Of Richmond Information Science Is students take on a median of $21,634 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,178 ten years after entry. Set against $21,634 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Richmond has an acceptance rate of 22%. Read more about University Of Richmond
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #11 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Set in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Students borrow a median of $20,767 to complete their Information Science Is program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,874. That is a strong return on a $20,767 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Lowell has an acceptance rate of 83%. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Loyola University Chicago landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete their Information Science Is program here. Loyola University Chicago alumni report median earnings of $71,530 a decade after entry. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 82% of those who apply are admitted. More on Loyola University Chicago
Purdue University Main Campus placed #13 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. See the full Purdue University Main Campus profile
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock placed #14 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Information Science Is schools. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Luther College
Luther College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Luther College
Northern Kentucky University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. See the full Northern Kentucky University profile
San Diego State University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about San Diego State University
University Of Kentucky came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Kentucky
University Of Southern Maine placed #20 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Southern Maine
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
Bucks County Community College came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full Bucks County Community College profile
Dyersburg State Community College placed #23 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Get the full Dyersburg State Community College report
Frostburg State University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Frostburg State University
Widener University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Widener University Main Campus report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Information Science Is Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College placed #26 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Get the full City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College report
University Of Colorado Denver placed #27 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. More on University Of Colorado Denver
American College Of Education landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about American College Of Education
Jacksonville State University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Jacksonville State University
Oakton Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about Oakton Community College
Hampton University landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Hampton University
Saint Michaels College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Saint Michaels College
Southern Oregon University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Information Science Is schools. More on Southern Oregon University
Strayer University New Jersey came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Strayer University New Jersey report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Lehigh Valley placed #35 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Lehigh Valley report
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Information Science Is schools. Read the full report on Minnesota State University Moorhead
Strayer University South Carolina placed #37 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Read more about Strayer University South Carolina
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee Flex offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee Flex
Suny College At Buffalo came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. More on Suny College At Buffalo
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg placed #40 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. More on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
Roosevelt University offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Roosevelt University report
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Furman University offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Furman University report
George Washington University placed #44 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. Read the full report on George Washington University
Suny At Fredonia
Suny At Fredonia landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Suny At Fredonia profile
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read more about City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College
Northwestern University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Northwestern University
Thomas Jefferson University offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Thomas Jefferson University profile
University Of Maine offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on University Of Maine
Westfield State University placed #50 among the best-value Information Science Is schools in the United States. More on Westfield State University
Related Information Science Is Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Information Science Is Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Information Science Is Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Information Science Is Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Information Science Is Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Information Science Is Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Information Science Is Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Information Science Is Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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 467 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).