General Information Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 467 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general information science students pursuing a degree.
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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.
Choosing a Great General Information Science School
Where you study general information science matters for your future. That is why we built our Best General Information Science Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
General Information Science Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Information Science Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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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.
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best general information science schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 659 general information science degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Students who receive their general information science degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $175,482 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
Read more about the general information science program at University Of California Berkeley
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general information science, ranking #2. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 161 general information science students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. General Information Science graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $117,046 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full general information science details for Northwestern University
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general information science schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 25 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. General Information Science graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general information science program at Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for general information science. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 283 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $114,662. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
See the full general information science program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general information science, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 439 general information science degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full general information science details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #6 for general information science this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 70 general information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general information science program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
See the full general information science program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #7 spot for general information science this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 741 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general information science degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $70,344 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,180.
More information about a degree in general information science from University Of Maryland College Park
Johns Hopkins University landed the #8 spot for general information science this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 64 general information science degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. General Information Science graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $80,595 early in their careers. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
Get the full general information science details for Johns Hopkins University
George Mason University earned the #9 position for general information science this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 69 general information science students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general information science degree from George Mason University earn around $63,131 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Get the full general information science details for George Mason University
James Madison University earned the #10 position for general information science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. James Madison University awarded about 146 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general information science program make about $80,173 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,025.
Get the full general information science details for James Madison University
University Of Delaware landed the #11 spot for general information science this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 77 general information science degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general information science program at University Of Delaware
Boston College placed #12 among the best general information science schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 19 general information science degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general information science degree from Boston College earn around $80,731 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general information science program report for Boston College
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general information science schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 518 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general information science program make about $81,201 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans.
See the full general information science program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Boston University earned the #14 position for general information science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston University awarded about 198 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $104,702. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
Get the full general information science details for Boston University
George Washington University landed the #15 spot for general information science this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. George Washington University awarded about 68 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general information science degree from George Washington University earn around $114,156 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general information science program at George Washington University
Stony Brook University landed the #16 spot for general information science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 81 general information science students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general information science degree from Stony Brook University earn around $68,007 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general information science program at Stony Brook University
University Of Southern California came in at #17 for general information science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 13 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
Read more about the general information science program at University Of Southern California
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #18 position for general information science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 185 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general information science degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $72,104 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,294 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general information science program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University At Buffalo ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best general information science schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 157 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. General Information Science graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general information science from University At Buffalo
San Jose State University landed the #20 spot for general information science this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 52 general information science degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the general information science program at San Jose State University
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #21 position for general information science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 11 general information science students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. General Information Science graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general information science program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
New York University came in at #22 for general information science this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 18 general information science degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
Read more about the general information science program at New York University
University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned the #23 position for general information science this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland Baltimore County awarded about 476 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general information science degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $72,276. Typical student debt for the program is $21,576.
See the full general information science program report for University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Syracuse University earned the #24 position for general information science this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 297 general information science degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general information science program make about $87,673 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,694 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general information science program at Syracuse University
Suny At Binghamton landed the #25 spot for general information science this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 21 general information science degrees in the most recent data year. General Information Science graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans.
Get the full general information science details for Suny At Binghamton
Rest of the Top 50 General Information Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general information science this year:
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To stay competitive in today's information technology world, employees need to have training that goes beyond traditional computer programming and IT expertise.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 467 schools evaluated.
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).