[General Information Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/general-information-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general information science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general information science students.
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Featured General Information Science Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AS in Information Technologies
Gain the specialized knowledge and critical-thinking skills required to begin a career in tech with this online associate degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general information science degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of South Carolina Upstate tops our 2026 list of the best value general information science schools in South Carolina. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,588, with out-of-state students paying around $23,090. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the general information science program here. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Upstate generally make around $48,664. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general information science will find it at College Of Charleston, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,978 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,296. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $22,591. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from College Of Charleston generally make around $63,069. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of Charleston admits about 60% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clemson University earned it the #3 place for general information science. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Typical student debt for general information science graduates is $25,964. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $76,549. That is a strong return on a $25,964 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Carolina Columbia earned it the #4 place for general information science. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete the general information science program here. Early-career general information science graduates make about $54,087. That is a strong return on a $24,472 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
More General Information Science Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
