2026 Best Value Computer Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Computer Science graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1091 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Computer Science Degree analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Computer Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found Seattle University to be the best-value Computer Science school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Seattle, WA. Students from in state pay about $56,721 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,980 to complete their Computer Science program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $75,272. Set against $24,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%. Read more about Seattle University
Request InformationA rank of #2 makes Missouri State University Springfield one of the best values in the United States. Based in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,719 in student loans. Missouri State University Springfield alumni report median earnings of $49,827 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,719 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants. Read more about Missouri State University Springfield
Request InformationYou'll get strong value at University Of Memphis, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Memphis, TN, University Of Memphis is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. University Of Memphis Computer Science students take on a median of $24,672 in debt. University Of Memphis alumni report median earnings of $48,458 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,672 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants. Read more about University Of Memphis
Request InformationOut of the 1091 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Rolla, MO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Missouri University Of Science And Technology Computer Science students take on a median of $25,187 in debt. Missouri University Of Science And Technology alumni report median earnings of $82,957 a decade after entry. Set against $25,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%. Get the full Missouri University Of Science And Technology report
Request InformationOut of the 1091 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #5 spot. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. North Carolina State University At Raleigh Computer Science students take on a median of $21,073 in debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh alumni report median earnings of $68,758 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,073 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
Request InformationKennesaw State University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Kennesaw, GA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,552 ten years after entry. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants. More on Kennesaw State University
Request InformationUniversity Of Idaho came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Moscow, ID. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Typical Computer Science student debt is $25,500. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,670. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Idaho report
Request InformationWorcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Located in Worcester, MA, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $60,765. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $103,470 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Worcester Polytechnic Institute profile
Request InformationCalifornia State University Sacramento came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Set in Sacramento, CA, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. The median Computer Science program debt is $15,625. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $64,876. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%. More on California State University Sacramento
Request InformationDrexel University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. The median Computer Science program debt is $29,333. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $84,648. Set against $29,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%. Get the full Drexel University report
Request InformationUniversity Of New Orleans landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in New Orleans, LA, University Of New Orleans is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,172, with out-of-state students paying around $14,008. Students borrow a median of $16,604 to complete their Computer Science program here. University Of New Orleans alumni report median earnings of $47,872 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,604 median debt. University Of New Orleans has an acceptance rate of 74%. Get the full University Of New Orleans report
Request InformationWake Forest University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winston-Salem, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. The median Computer Science program debt is $20,674. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,158 ten years after entry. Set against $20,674 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wake Forest University has an acceptance rate of 22%. Read the full report on Wake Forest University
Request InformationStevens Institute Of Technology placed #13 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hoboken, NJ. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. The median Computer Science program debt is $27,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $108,772 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stevens Institute Of Technology admits about 48% of applicants. More on Stevens Institute Of Technology
Request InformationColumbia University In The City Of New York placed #14 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $20,397 in student loans. Median earnings reach $102,491 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 4% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Request InformationTufts University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Medford, MA. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Tufts University Computer Science students take on a median of $15,500 in debt. Median earnings reach $83,214 ten years out. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants. Read more about Tufts University
Request InformationUniversity Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #16 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Based in North Dartmouth, MA, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Typical Computer Science student debt is $27,106. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,804. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth has an acceptance rate of 91%. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth report
Request InformationIndiana University Northwest came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Located in Gary, IN, Indiana University Northwest is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. The median Computer Science program debt is $22,116. Median earnings reach $43,361 ten years out. Set against $22,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%. Read the full report on Indiana University Northwest
Request InformationKettering University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Kettering University profile
Request InformationLetourneau University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Letourneau University
Request InformationMohawk Valley Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on Mohawk Valley Community College
Request InformationMount Wachusett Community College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Mount Wachusett Community College
Request InformationRio Salado College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. See the full Rio Salado College profile
Request InformationConcordia University Irvine ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read more about Concordia University Irvine
Request InformationElmhurst College
Elmhurst College placed #24 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Get the full Elmhurst College report
Request InformationHiram College
Hiram College landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Hiram College profile
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best-Value Computer Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Southern University And A And M College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Southern University And A And M College report
Request InformationVermont Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. More on Vermont Technical College
Request InformationAllegheny College landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Allegheny College
Request InformationHarrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. See the full Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg profile
Request InformationPennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Request InformationSuny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. See the full Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome profile
Request InformationCampbellsville University offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Campbellsville University
Request InformationUniversity Of San Francisco landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of San Francisco report
Request InformationCalifornia Institute Of Technology placed #34 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Read more about California Institute Of Technology
Request InformationLake Washington Institute Of Technology landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Lake Washington Institute Of Technology profile
Request InformationMiddlebury College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. More on Middlebury College
Request InformationMonroe County Community College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Monroe County Community College
Request InformationMuhlenberg College placed #38 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. More on Muhlenberg College
Request InformationSouthern Adventist University placed #39 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Southern Adventist University
Request InformationUniversity Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #40 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh profile
Request InformationAugsburg College
Augsburg College placed #41 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. See the full Augsburg College profile
Request InformationBridgevalley Community And Technical College landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Bridgevalley Community And Technical College profile
Request InformationCatholic University Of America ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read the full report on Catholic University Of America
Request InformationGuam Community College came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. See the full Guam Community College profile
Request InformationOdessa College
Odessa College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read more about Odessa College
Request InformationStark State College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Computer Science schools. Read more about Stark State College
Request InformationStonehill College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Stonehill College
Request InformationUniversity Of Southern California landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Request InformationBenedictine College placed #49 among the best-value Computer Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Benedictine College
Request InformationBriar Cliff University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Briar Cliff University report
Request InformationRelated Computer Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Computer Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Computer Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Computer Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Computer Science Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1091 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).