2026 Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Schools
[Library & Archives Assisting](/majors/library-science/library-archives-assisting/library-and-archives-assisting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong library & archives assisting education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for library & archives assisting students.
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Finding the Best Value Library & Archives Assisting School for You
Where you study library & archives assisting affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2026 Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in library & archives assisting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Schools
Central Carolina Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value library & archives assisting schools in the United States. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $10,266. Soon after graduation, library & archives assisting degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library & archives assisting, landing the #2 spot this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Library & Archives Assisting graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Library & Archives Assisting graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pasadena City College earned it the #3 place for library & archives assisting. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $9,191. Early-career library & archives assisting graduates make about $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Santa Ana College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value library & archives assisting schools. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the library & archives assisting program here. Soon after graduation, library & archives assisting degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Sacramento City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library & archives assisting, landing the #5 spot this year. Sacramento City College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,180 to complete the library & archives assisting program here. Library & Archives Assisting graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $46,522 early in their careers. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Long Beach City College earned the #6 position for value in library & archives assisting this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students from in state pay about $1,556 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,544. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $6,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,870 ten years after entry. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palomar College placed #7 among the best values for library & archives assisting. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, compared with $10,650 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
College Of Dupage ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value library & archives assisting schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the library & archives assisting program here. Soon after graduation, library & archives assisting degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $31,514. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #9 for value in library & archives assisting this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Students from in state pay about $1,696 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $10,332. Soon after graduation, library & archives assisting degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Set against $10,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spokane Falls Community College earned the #10 position for value in library & archives assisting this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Falls Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,461, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $17,031. Soon after graduation, library & archives assisting degree recipients from Spokane Falls Community College generally make around $34,901. That is a strong return on a $17,031 median debt.
San Bernardino Valley College placed #11 among the best values for library & archives assisting. Located in the city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,196, while out-of-state students pay about $4,528. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $19,500. Early-career library & archives assisting graduates make about $69,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capital Community College came in at #12 for value in library & archives assisting this year. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,338 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Library & Archives Assisting graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Library & Archives Assisting graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuesta College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value library & archives assisting schools. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Students from in state pay about $1,350 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,010 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $18,958. Early-career library & archives assisting graduates make about $64,492. Set against $18,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
