2026 Best Value Data Processing Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Data Processing associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 141 colleges 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 evaluated schools to compile 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 Data Processing Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat American Public University System this year in the United States. Based in Charles Town, WV, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. The median Data Processing program debt is $19,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,409 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Get the full American Public University System report
Request InformationYou'll get strong value at El Centro College, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. El Centro College Data Processing students take on a median of $10,718 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,714. Set against $10,718 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on El Centro College
Request InformationA rank of #3 makes Athens Technical College one of the best values in the United States. Located in Athens, GA, Athens Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $5,958. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete their Data Processing program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,951. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. More on Athens Technical College
Request InformationOut of the 141 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, West Georgia Technical College landed the #4 spot. Located in Waco, GA, West Georgia Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Students borrow a median of $12,651 to complete their Data Processing program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,479 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full West Georgia Technical College profile
Request InformationA rank of #5 makes Augusta Technical College one of the best values in the United States. Based in Augusta, GA, Augusta Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,282, with out-of-state students paying around $7,492. Students borrow a median of $11,400 to complete their Data Processing program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,523 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,400 median debt. Get the full Augusta Technical College report
Request InformationDelgado Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in New Orleans, LA, Delgado Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,279. Typical Data Processing student debt is $17,418. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $33,305. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Delgado Community College report
Request InformationGeorgia Piedmont Technical College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Clarkston, GA, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,404, compared with $5,954 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,716 to complete their Data Processing program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,619. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Georgia Piedmont Technical College profile
Request InformationYork Technical College placed #8 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Located in Rock Hill, SC, York Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,036, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete their Data Processing program here. York Technical College alumni report median earnings of $37,257 a decade after entry. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full York Technical College profile
Request InformationColumbia Basin College placed #9 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Located in Pasco, WA, Columbia Basin College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,555, while out-of-state students pay about $8,668. Students borrow a median of $17,170 to complete their Data Processing program here. Median earnings reach $46,680 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $17,170 median debt. Read more about Columbia Basin College
Request InformationGreenville Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Greenville, SC. Students from in state pay about $5,495 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,775. Greenville Technical College Data Processing students take on a median of $21,083 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,473 ten years after entry. Set against $21,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Greenville Technical College report
Request InformationPiedmont Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. This public school is set in Greenwood, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,775, while out-of-state students pay about $6,923. The median Data Processing program debt is $17,652. Median earnings reach $35,768 ten years out. Set against $17,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Piedmont Technical College report
Request InformationOgeechee Technical College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Set in Statesboro, GA, Ogeechee Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,388 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,956. The median Data Processing program debt is $11,894. Ogeechee Technical College alumni report median earnings of $31,248 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Ogeechee Technical College
Request InformationSpartanburg Community College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Set in Spartanburg, SC, Spartanburg Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, with out-of-state students paying around $10,135. Typical Data Processing student debt is $10,148. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,097 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Spartanburg Community College profile
Request InformationHorry Georgetown Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Conway, SC, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Typical Data Processing student debt is $16,500. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,507. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. Read more about Horry Georgetown Technical College
Request InformationCentral Carolina Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. This public school is set in Sumter, SC. In-state tuition and fees average $5,715, while out-of-state students pay about $9,016. The median Data Processing program debt is $15,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,603 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. See the full Central Carolina Technical College profile
Request InformationMiami University Hamilton ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Set in Hamilton, OH, Miami University Hamilton is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,012, with out-of-state students paying around $18,811. Students borrow a median of $21,031 to complete their Data Processing program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,076. Set against $21,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Miami University Hamilton
Request InformationMiami University Middletown landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Middletown, OH, Miami University Middletown is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,012, compared with $18,811 for out-of-state students. Miami University Middletown Data Processing students take on a median of $21,031 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,076. That is a strong return on a $21,031 median debt. Read the full report on Miami University Middletown
Request InformationMidlands Technical College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Set in West Columbia, SC, Midlands Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Midlands Technical College Data Processing students take on a median of $14,013 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,701 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Midlands Technical College report
Request InformationCapella University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Read more about Capella University
Request InformationSkagit Valley College placed #20 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. See the full Skagit Valley College profile
Request InformationArkansas State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Arkansas State University Main Campus
Request InformationDickinson State University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Dickinson State University report
Request InformationFerris State University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Ferris State University
Request InformationSoutheastern Technical College placed #24 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read more about Southeastern Technical College
Request InformationTechnical College Of The Lowcountry placed #25 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read more about Technical College Of The Lowcountry
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best-Value Data Processing Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Georgia Military College Milledgeville landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Georgia Military College Milledgeville
Request InformationCapital Community College placed #27 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Get the full Capital Community College report
Request InformationEssex County College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. More on Essex County College
Request InformationUniversity Of San Francisco offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on University Of San Francisco
Request InformationOconee Fall Line Technical College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Get the full Oconee Fall Line Technical College report
Request InformationEverett Community College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. More on Everett Community College
Request InformationUniversity Of Southern Mississippi offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full University Of Southern Mississippi report
Request InformationSouth Georgia Technical College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. More on South Georgia Technical College
Request InformationUniversity Of Baltimore placed #34 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Baltimore
Request InformationCuny Hostos Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Cuny Hostos Community College
Request InformationUniversity Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas report
Request InformationOrangeburg Calhoun Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College report
Request InformationWayne State University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Read more about Wayne State University
Request InformationWesleyan College
Wesleyan College placed #39 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. See the full Wesleyan College profile
Request InformationDodge City Community College placed #40 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read the full report on Dodge City Community College
Request InformationCuny Queensborough Community College placed #41 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. See the full Cuny Queensborough Community College profile
Request InformationTrident Technical College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. See the full Trident Technical College profile
Request InformationWilliamsburg Technical College landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Williamsburg Technical College report
Request InformationSavannah Technical College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Savannah Technical College profile
Request InformationLamar Institute Of Technology landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Lamar Institute Of Technology report
Request InformationGeorge Washington University landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. More on George Washington University
Request InformationTri County Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Tri County Technical College profile
Request InformationWilliston State College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Williston State College
Request InformationYakima Valley Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. More on Yakima Valley Community College
Request InformationCuny Brooklyn College placed #50 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. More on Cuny Brooklyn College
Request InformationRelated Data Processing Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Data Processing Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Data Processing Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Computer Science Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 141 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).