2026 Best Value Data Processing Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Data Processing certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 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.
So you can compare your options, 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found El Centro College to be the best-value Data Processing school in the United States. This public school is set in Dallas, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. The median Data Processing program debt is $10,718. El Centro College alumni report median earnings of $41,714 a decade after entry. Set against $10,718 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about El Centro College
Request InformationYou'll get strong value at Athens Technical College, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Athens, GA, Athens Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,390, compared with $5,958 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,951. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. Read more about Athens Technical College
Request InformationThe strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Piedmont Technical College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Clarkston, GA, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,404, while out-of-state students pay about $5,954. Georgia Piedmont Technical College Data Processing students take on a median of $15,716 in debt. Georgia Piedmont Technical College alumni report median earnings of $34,619 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Request InformationYou'll get strong value at Stark State College, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in North Canton, OH. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical Data Processing student debt is $17,349. Median earnings reach $34,661 ten years out. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Stark State College profile
Request InformationOut of the 141 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Ferris State University landed the #5 spot. Located in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Typical Data Processing student debt is $23,562. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,735 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University has an acceptance rate of 91%. Read more about Ferris State University
Request InformationYork Technical College placed #6 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Located in Rock Hill, SC, York Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,036 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,340. Typical Data Processing student debt is $15,125. Median earnings reach $37,257 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full York Technical College profile
Request InformationPiedmont Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Piedmont Technical College is a public school based in Greenwood, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Piedmont Technical College Data Processing students take on a median of $17,652 in debt. Median earnings reach $35,768 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Piedmont Technical College
Request InformationCommunity College Of Philadelphia came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Community College Of Philadelphia is a public school based in Philadelphia, PA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,632, with out-of-state students paying around $12,744. Graduates carry a median of $16,059 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,852. Set against $16,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Community College Of Philadelphia
Request InformationSpartanburg Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Spartanburg, SC, Spartanburg Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Spartanburg Community College Data Processing students take on a median of $10,148 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $37,097. Set against $10,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Spartanburg Community College profile
Request InformationHorry Georgetown Technical College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Set in Conway, SC, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. The median Data Processing program debt is $16,500. Horry Georgetown Technical College alumni report median earnings of $35,507 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Horry Georgetown Technical College
Request InformationGreenville Technical College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Greenville, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,495, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,083 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,473. That is a strong return on a $21,083 median debt. Get the full Greenville Technical College report
Request InformationCentral Carolina Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Set in Sumter, SC, Central Carolina Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,715, with out-of-state students paying around $9,016. Typical Data Processing student debt is $15,750. Central Carolina Technical College alumni report median earnings of $32,603 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. More on Central Carolina Technical College
Request InformationMidlands Technical College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Based in West Columbia, SC, Midlands Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Students borrow a median of $14,013 to complete their Data Processing program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Midlands Technical College report
Request InformationMoraine Park Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Read more about Moraine Park Technical College
Request InformationMonroe County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full Monroe County Community College report
Request InformationUniversity Of Nevada Las Vegas offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Request InformationTri County Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Tri County Technical College
Request InformationOcean County College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Ocean County College profile
Request InformationSt Clair County Community College placed #19 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. See the full St Clair County Community College profile
Request InformationYavapai College
Yavapai College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. See the full Yavapai College profile
Request InformationCuny Bronx Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Cuny Bronx Community College profile
Request InformationLee College
Lee College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Lee College report
Request InformationNew Mexico State University Dona Ana landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about New Mexico State University Dona Ana
Request InformationWesleyan College
Wesleyan College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Wesleyan College report
Request InformationFarmingdale State College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Read the full report on Farmingdale State College
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best-Value Data Processing Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Rogers State University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Read the full report on Rogers State University
Request InformationSinte Gleska University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. See the full Sinte Gleska University profile
Request InformationCuny Queensborough Community College placed #28 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read more about Cuny Queensborough Community College
Request InformationEverett Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. Read more about Everett Community College
Request InformationWalden University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Walden University profile
Request InformationSoutheastern Technical College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Data Processing schools. More on Southeastern Technical College
Request InformationCuny Brooklyn College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. More on Cuny Brooklyn College
Request InformationClarkson University placed #33 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. More on Clarkson University
Request InformationLanier Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Lanier Technical College
Request InformationVirginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
Request InformationCuny Kingsborough Community College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Cuny Kingsborough Community College report
Request InformationMclennan Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on Mclennan Community College
Request InformationDelgado Community College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Delgado Community College
Request InformationUniversity Of Southern Mississippi placed #39 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Southern Mississippi
Request InformationNorthcentral University landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Northcentral University report
Request InformationSouthern Regional Technical College placed #41 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. See the full Southern Regional Technical College profile
Request InformationSkagit Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Skagit Valley College report
Request InformationCapella University placed #43 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. See the full Capella University profile
Request InformationNassau Community College placed #44 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Get the full Nassau Community College report
Request InformationHennepin Technical College landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Hennepin Technical College
Request InformationMissouri University Of Science And Technology placed #46 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read the full report on Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Request InformationRockland Community College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Rockland Community College report
Request InformationEl Paso Community College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on El Paso Community College
Request InformationGeorgia Northwestern Technical College placed #49 among the best-value Data Processing schools in the United States. Read more about Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Request InformationLone Star College System came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. See the full Lone Star College System profile
Request InformationRelated Data Processing Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Data Processing Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Data Processing Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Data Processing Associate’s 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. Rankings consider 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).