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

2026 Best Value Information Science Schools in Illinois

5 Colleges in the United States
$16,409 Avg Student Debt
$59,324 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong information science education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools to find the best return on investment 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 Illinois

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

Best Value Information Science Schools

1
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Lake Land College earned the #1 spot for value among information science schools in Illinois. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Information Science graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Information Science graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned it the #2 place for information science. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Information Science graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Early-career information science graduates make about $33,326. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.

3

Shawnee Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #3 spot this year. Shawnee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ullin. Students from in state pay about $4,650 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,500. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $11,162. Information Science graduates of Shawnee Community College earn a median of $39,601 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL

Students looking for strong value in information science will find it at Oakton Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $7,750. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value information science schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $14,538 to complete the information science program here. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $58,651. That is a strong return on a $14,538 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #101
6

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #6 position for value in information science this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Information Science graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Information Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $44,923 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.

7

Saint Xavier University landed the #7 spot for information science value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $25,735. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $51,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.

8
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College placed #8 among the best values for information science. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Information Science graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $51,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.

9

Bradley University earned the #9 position for value in information science this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $24,950. Early-career information science graduates make about $58,014. That is a strong return on a $24,950 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.

10

Northwestern University placed #10 among the best values for information science. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for information science graduates is $12,000. Early-career information science graduates make about $117,046. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.

ADBLOCK #115
11
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University placed #11 among the best values for information science. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Information Science graduates carry a median of $25,916 in student loans. Information Science graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $75,709 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Information Science Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 31 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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