Information Science/Studies Colleges Under $20,000

CUNY Baruch College graduates earn $49,571 annually while paying just $2,978 in net costs, making it the earnings leader among affordable Information Science programs nationwide. The gap between highest and lowest graduate earnings spans nearly $20,000, from Texas Southmost College's $29,685 to Baruch's nearly $50,000 annually. Information Science professionals find strong demand across the country as organizations need specialists to manage data systems, digital libraries, and information architecture. California State University-Fullerton stands out with a 69% graduation rate and $49,312 median earnings at $5,646 net cost. Puerto Rico's Colegio Universitario de San Juan offers the lowest net price at just $200, though graduation rates remain modest at 30%. The field bridges technology and human behavior, preparing graduates for roles in government agencies, healthcare systems, and tech companies that increasingly value information organization skills. These programs typically combine database management, user experience design, and research methods to meet growing workforce needs.

Programs

$200 – $12,840

Net Price Range

$47,619

Avg. Program Earnings

46.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Information Science/Studies Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Colegio Universitario de San Juan San Juan, Puerto Rico	$200	$2,340	30.1%	98.5%
2	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
3	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, New York	$2,978	$7,464	72.1%	49.5%
4	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
5	California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$4,113	$6,813	52.6%	86.9%
6	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, New York	$4,783	$7,332	19.4%	81.8%
7	College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, New York	$5,115	$7,490	32.8%
8	Texas Southmost College Brownsville, Texas	$5,458	$3,148	26.8%
9	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
10	California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, California	$5,671	$7,826	58.0%	96.6%
11	CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, New York	$5,881	$7,352	22.3%	87.7%
12	Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, Florida	$5,939	$2,496	51.2%
13	Coppin State University Baltimore, Maryland	$6,007	$7,001	25.6%	45.0%
14	Atlantic University Guaynabo, Puerto Rico	$6,305	$8,280	35.7%
15	Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, Oklahoma	$6,352	$7,200	33.3%	74.2%
16	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
17	Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, North Carolina	$6,935	$2,336	31.4%
18	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, Idaho	$7,131	$4,656	55.1%	95.6%
19	Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, Kentucky	$7,168	$10,896	48.3%	86.0%
20	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$7,599	$7,095	56.2%	91.2%
21	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, New Mexico	$8,265	$9,058	56.4%	74.4%
22	Utah Valley University Orem, Utah	$8,463	$6,270	40.7%
23	University of Houston-Victoria Victoria, Texas	$8,624	$7,499	26.5%	82.1%
24	Savannah State University Savannah, Georgia	$8,683	$5,498	25.2%
25	Fairmont State University Fairmont, West Virginia	$9,055	$8,454	48.3%	98.5%
26	Murray State University Murray, Kentucky	$9,121	$9,708	59.5%	84.0%
27	The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa, Texas	$9,144	$10,904	43.0%	94.7%
28	Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, New York	$9,173	$8,576	57.1%	73.2%
29	University of Arkansas Grantham LIttle Rock, Arkansas	$9,325	$8,280	24.3%
30	University of Guam Mangilao, Guam	$9,424	$6,110	42.1%
31	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900	$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
32	Concord University Athens, West Virginia	$9,983	$9,700	42.3%	91.4%
33	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$10,011	$9,142	50.1%	85.3%
34	University of South Florida Tampa, Florida	$10,043	$6,410	74.6%	43.9%
35	Clayton State University Morrow, Georgia	$10,145	$5,068	35.4%	56.3%
36	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina	$10,170	$7,593	57.9%	91.9%
37	Texas A & M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas	$10,204	$9,892	45.6%	96.6%
38	Weber State University Ogden, Utah	$10,722	$6,391	43.0%
39	University of North Georgia Dahlonega, Georgia	$10,785	$5,009	36.8%	69.6%
40	University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, Washington	$10,898	$12,559	68.2%	88.1%
41	Texas A & M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas	$11,268	$10,026	45.9%	86.5%
42	Valdosta State University Valdosta, Georgia	$11,298	$6,007	41.7%	89.5%
43	Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, Georgia	$11,609	$5,392	45.2%	43.1%
44	Saint Xavier University Chicago, Illinois	$12,093	$36,840	59.0%	84.1%
45	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, Indiana	$12,267	$10,110	47.6%
46	University of Michigan-Flint Flint, Michigan	$12,280	$14,014	44.6%	66.4%
47	University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, Illinois	$12,313	$14,338	60.3%	78.7%
48	Lincoln University Jefferson City, Missouri	$12,484	$9,290	22.1%
49	University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska	$12,791	$8,370	47.5%	85.9%
50	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What accounts for the massive earnings gap between the highest and lowest paying Information Science programs?

Geographic location and institutional focus create dramatic salary differences, with CUNY Baruch College graduates earning $49,571 compared to Texas Southmost College's $29,685. Urban schools like those in New York City and Los Angeles connect students to high-paying tech and finance sectors. California State University-Fullerton graduates also earn strong salaries at $49,312, reflecting the state's solid technology industry demand. Regional job markets significantly impact starting salaries more than program quality alone.

How do graduation rates vary among these affordable Information Science programs?

Completion rates range from 19% at CUNY New York City College of Technology to 72% at CUNY Baruch College, showing significant variation even within the same university system. California State University-Fullerton achieves 69% graduation rates while maintaining reasonable costs at $5,646 net price. Several programs struggle with retention, including CUNY Medgar Evers College at 22% and Texas Southmost College at 27%. Higher graduation rates generally correlate with better post-graduation earnings and lower student debt burdens.

Is studying Information Science worth the investment at community college prices?

Programs like Eastern Florida State College offer Information Science training for just $2,496 in-state tuition with 51% graduation rates, making the field accessible to budget-conscious students. Colegio Universitario de San Juan provides even lower costs at $200 net price, though graduation rates remain around 30%. These affordable options can serve as stepping stones to four-year degrees or direct workforce entry. The relatively low debt loads, with some programs averaging under $12,000, make career transitions financially feasible.

Where do the most affordable Information Science programs accept the highest percentage of applicants?

Colegio Universitario de San Juan accepts 98% of applicants at just $200 net cost, offering nearly open access to Information Science education. California State University-Stanislaus admits 97% of students for $5,671, while Cal State Los Angeles accepts 87% at $4,113 net price. These high acceptance rates contrast sharply with CUNY Baruch's 50% admission rate, reflecting its competitive urban market position. Schools with broader admission policies often serve first-generation college students and career changers.

Does attending a CUNY school for Information Science provide better value than other options?

CUNY schools dominate the affordable Information Science market, occupying six of the top 15 spots with net costs ranging from $2,943 to $5,881. Baruch College delivers the strongest return with $49,571 graduate earnings and 72% completion rates for under $3,000 annually. Brooklyn College offers solid value at $2,943 with $42,188 average earnings and 57% graduation rates. However, some CUNY programs struggle with completion, like City Tech's 19% graduation rate, requiring careful school selection within the system.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.