ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Information Science Schools in California

3 Colleges in the United States
$19,252 Avg Student Debt
$80,069 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Information Science Badge [Information Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for information science students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/information-science-is/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 7
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 11.04), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Computer Information Systems" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Computer Information Systems" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "AS in Information Technologies" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "AS in Information Technologies" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Information Technologies" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in Information Technologies" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Information Technologies" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Information Technologies" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MS in Information Technology" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MS in Information Technology" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 5
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers

2026 Best Value Information Science Schools in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in information science, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Information Science Schools

1

University Of California Riverside tops our 2026 list of the best value information science schools in California. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $24,417. Information Science graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $76,090 early in their careers. Set against $24,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.

2

San Jose State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #2 spot this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.

3

University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $14,238. Information Science graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $175,482 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.

4

A rank of #4 makes California Lutheran University one of the best values for information science. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $22,727. Information Science graduates of California Lutheran University earn a median of $53,271 early in their careers. Set against $22,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Lutheran University admits about 76% of applicants.

5

University Of Southern California is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Information Science Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 18 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options