Cheapest Information Science/Studies Colleges

The gap between most and least affordable Information Science programs reaches nearly $7,400 annually, with Colegio Universitario de San Juan offering a $200 net price that makes it virtually free for eligible students. This dramatic cost variation reflects regional economic differences and state funding models across public institutions. CUNY Baruch College graduates earn $49,571 annually despite a modest $2,978 net price, positioning them well in New York's growing tech sector where information science professionals support financial services, healthcare, and digital media companies. California State University-Fullerton provides strong earning potential at $49,312 with a $5,646 net cost, while Texas Southmost College serves students at $5,458 annually though earnings average $29,685. The data reveals that affordable programs often cluster in metropolitan areas where information science skills remain in high demand for database administration, systems analysis, and digital library management roles.

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 makes Colegio Universitario de San Juan the most affordable option?

The Puerto Rico institution charges just $200 in net costs annually, making it essentially free for most students. Its 98.46% acceptance rate provides broad access, though the 30.10% graduation rate suggests students should carefully consider support systems. The school serves as a pathway to four-year programs or entry-level positions in the island's growing information services sector.

How do CUNY schools perform in terms of value?

CUNY Baruch College offers strong value with graduates earning $49,571 annually from a $2,978 net price program. Brooklyn College provides solid returns at $42,188 earnings for $2,943 in costs, while Lehman College graduates average $46,673 with $3,482 in expenses. These Manhattan and borough campuses benefit from proximity to finance, tech, and media employers seeking information science talent.

Does California State University-Fullerton justify its higher cost?

At $5,646 net price, CSU-Fullerton produces graduates earning $49,312 annually with a strong 69.20% graduation rate. The program benefits from Orange County's tech industry concentration, including aerospace, medical device companies, and software firms. Students graduate with an average debt of $13,071, which remains manageable given the earning potential in California's information economy.

Is Texas Southmost College worth considering despite lower earnings?

Texas Southmost College costs $5,458 annually but graduates earn $29,685, creating a challenging return on investment scenario. The 26.80% graduation rate indicates potential retention issues that prospective students should investigate thoroughly. However, the program might serve students planning to transfer or those seeking entry-level positions in South Texas's border economy.

Where do the best graduation rates appear among affordable programs?

CUNY Baruch College leads with a 72.10% graduation rate while maintaining low costs, followed by CSU-Fullerton at 69.20% and CSU-Stanislaus at 58.00%. Brooklyn College achieves 56.60% completion rates at under $3,000 annually. These higher graduation rates typically correlate with better student support services and academic preparation requirements.

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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.