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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

24 Colleges in the United States
4,484 Information Science Degrees Awarded
$55,743 Avg Early-Career Salary

Information Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their information science programs.

College Factual analyzed 75 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best information science schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Information Science in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall information science education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Information Science

1

Northwestern University tops our 2026 ranking of the best information science schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 161 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $117,046. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. Get the full information science details for Northwestern University

2
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 25 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Read more about the information science program at Purdue University Main Campus

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for information science. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 70 information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the 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 information science program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

4

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 518 information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the 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. Read more about the information science program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

5

Ohio State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in information science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 15 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $58,088 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. More information about a degree in information science from Ohio State University Main Campus

6

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #6 for information science this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 500 information science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Information Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $44,923 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree. See the full information science program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

7
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 11 information science degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $51,232. Typical student debt for the program is $22,400. See the full information science program report for Elmhurst College

8

Wayne State University came in at #8 for information science this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Wayne State University awarded about 31 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Wayne State University earn around $55,469 in the first couple years of their career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Get the full information science details for Wayne State University

9

University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #9 among the best information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 113 information science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the information science program make about $58,651 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,538 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in information science from University Of Illinois At Chicago

10
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University placed #10 among the best information science schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 112 information science students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $75,709 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,916 to complete this degree. Read more about the information science program at Depaul University

11

Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. About 1,381 information science degrees were awarded at Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $47,735. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete this degree. Get the full information science details for Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus

12

Grand Valley State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Grand Valley State University awarded about 23 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Grand Valley State University earn around $66,967 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000. See the full information science program report for Grand Valley State University

13

Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for information science this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 34 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $60,359 in the first couple years of their career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,564 in student loans. Get the full information science details for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

14

Ball State University came in at #14 for information science this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Ball State University awarded about 52 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Information Science graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $66,844 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in information science from Ball State University

15

Cleveland State University landed the #15 spot for information science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Cleveland State University awarded about 276 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $64,346. Cleveland State University graduates carry a median of $25,731 in student loans. See the full information science program report for Cleveland State University

16
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Global ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. About 33% of students finish within six years. About 154 information science degrees were awarded at Purdue University Global in the most recent year. Graduates of the information science program make about $54,278 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in information science from Purdue University Global

17
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Des Plaines. About 24 information science degrees were awarded at Oakton Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the information science program make about $48,838 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,750. More information about a degree in information science from Oakton Community College

18
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #18 for information science this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Ivy Tech Community College awarded about 384 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $50,732 in their early career. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $12,791 in student loans. Get the full information science details for Ivy Tech Community College

19
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Lake Land College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. There were roughly 14 information science students who graduated with this degree at Lake Land College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $30,294 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,769. See the full information science program report for Lake Land College

20

University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 26 information science degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their information science degree from University Of Akron Main Campus earn around $56,824 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,589 in student loans. Read more about the information science program at University Of Akron Main Campus

21

University Of Toledo landed the #21 spot for information science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Toledo. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 91 information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Toledo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $50,920 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,193. More information about a degree in information science from University Of Toledo

22

Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #22 for information science this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. About 49 information science degrees were awarded at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent year. Information Science graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $45,238 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,629. More information about a degree in information science from Cuyahoga Community College District

23

University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #23 spot for information science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Dearborn. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Dearborn in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from University Of Michigan Dearborn earn around $101,914 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete this degree. Get the full information science details for University Of Michigan Dearborn

24

Bradley University placed #24 among the best information science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 17 information science students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Information Science graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $58,014 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,950 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in information science from Bradley University

25

Wright State University Main Campus earned the #25 position for information science this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 information science students who graduated with this degree at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Wright State University Main Campus earn around $49,077 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in information science from Wright State University Main Campus

Rest of the Top 37 Information Science Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s information science ranking:

26
27
28
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, OH
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Zane State College crest
Zane State College
Zanesville, OH
36
37

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 75 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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