2026 Best Value Data Science Schools

1

University Of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA

Our analysis ranked University Of California San Diego the best value for a degree in data science in the United States. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $60,797. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.

2

Rice University
Houston, TX

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #2 place for data science. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $11,904. Data Science graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.

3

Florida Polytechnic University
Lakeland, FL

Florida Polytechnic University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in data science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Lakeland, Florida Polytechnic University is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,940, compared with $21,004 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Florida Polytechnic University generally make around $64,823. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.

4

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in data science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $24,323. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.

5

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Students looking for strong value in data science will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #5. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $20,488. Early-career data science graduates make about $51,884. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.

6

Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL

Florida Atlantic University earned the #6 position for value in data science this year. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $20,212. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $49,340. Set against $20,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.

7

Brigham Young University Idaho
Rexburg, ID

Brigham Young University Idaho placed #7 among the best values for data science. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $13,287. Data Science graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $43,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.

8

University Of Central Florida
Orlando, FL

University Of Central Florida ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value data science schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $51,790. That is a strong return on a $21,620 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.

9

Miami Dade College
Miami, FL

Miami Dade College earned the #9 position for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $11,967. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,267. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

10

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University landed the #10 spot for data science value this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.

11

Montgomery College
Rockville, MD

Montgomery College came in at #11 for value in data science this year. Montgomery College is a very large public school located in the city of Rockville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,394, with out-of-state students paying around $14,250. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $11,230. Data Science graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

12

Truman State University
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value data science schools. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete the data science program here. Data Science graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Set against $23,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.

13

Utah State University
Logan, UT

Utah State University placed #13 among the best values for data science. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $16,191. Early-career data science graduates make about $50,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.

14

University Of Missouri Kansas City
Kansas City, MO

University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #14 among the best values for data science. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the data science program here. Early-career data science graduates make about $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.

15

University Of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA

University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #15 spot for data science value this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Data Science graduates carry a median of $15,501 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. Set against $15,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Barbara admits about 33% of applicants.

16

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Green Bay, WI

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay landed the #16 spot for data science value this year. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $24,477 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $42,853. Set against $24,477 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.

17

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University earned the #17 position for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $21,842. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,876. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

18

Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Middle Tennessee State University earned the #18 position for value in data science this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Data Science graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $43,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.

19

Saint Peters College
Jersey City, NJ

Saint Peters College placed #19 among the best values for data science. Set in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,552. Data Science graduates carry a median of $22,969 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $50,944. Set against $22,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.

20

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #20 position for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.

21

Wichita State University
Wichita, KS

Wichita State University came in at #21 for value in data science this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Data Science graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Early-career data science graduates make about $49,278. That is a strong return on a $24,262 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

22

University Of Memphis
Memphis, TN

University Of Memphis placed #22 among the best values for data science. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for data science graduates is $26,315. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.

23

Portland State University
Portland, OR

Portland State University landed the #23 spot for data science value this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Data Science graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Data Science graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.

24

Monroe College Main Campus
Bronx, NY

Monroe College Main Campus earned the #24 position for value in data science this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,464. Data Science graduates carry a median of $20,701 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from Monroe College Main Campus generally make around $40,329. That is a strong return on a $20,701 median debt. Monroe College Main Campus admits about 68% of applicants.

25

New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Newark, NJ

New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned the #25 position for value in data science this year. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Data Science graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans. Soon after graduation, data science degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,549. That is a strong return on a $24,755 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.