[School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/school-librarian-school-library-media-specialist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for school librarian/school library media specialist students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the school librarian/school library media specialist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Cuny Queens College tops our 2026 list of the best value school librarian/school library media specialist schools in the United States. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $16,000. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $75,530 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Murray State University one of the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $47,734. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in school librarian/school library media specialist will find it at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #3. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $19,750. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $53,683 early in their careers. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in school librarian/school library media specialist will find it at Valley City State University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Valley City, Valley City State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,580, with out-of-state students paying around $13,544. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $24,394 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Valley City State University generally make around $53,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Valley City State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in school librarian/school library media specialist will find it at Old Dominion University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $57,131 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
East Central University came in at #6 for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Set in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,032 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,842. Students borrow a median of $21,840 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from East Central University generally make around $49,619. Set against $21,840 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Columbus State University came in at #7 for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,898, with out-of-state students paying around $17,610. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $28,040 in student loans. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $51,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Cloud State University placed #8 among the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $30,795. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $43,279 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value school librarian/school library media specialist schools. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $25,741. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $41,721 early in their careers. Set against $25,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of West Georgia earned the #10 position for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. In-state tuition and fees average $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $57,518. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for school librarian/school library media specialist value this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $23,102. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,102 median debt. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey earned the #12 position for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $46,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Georgia Southern University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value school librarian/school library media specialist schools. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $41,063 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Salem State University earned the #14 position for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $59,390. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #15 for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,294 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $40,262. Set against $30,294 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany placed #16 among the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $23,521. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $54,318. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of Maine ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value school librarian/school library media specialist schools. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $49,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #18 for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $26,082 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $60,970. That is a strong return on a $26,082 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Georgia College And State University placed #19 among the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,186, while out-of-state students pay about $29,512. Students borrow a median of $24,412 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Georgia College And State University generally make around $52,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University placed #20 among the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $32,500 in student loans. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $48,197. That is a strong return on a $32,500 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #21 position for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $26,750. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $59,593. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Azusa Pacific University landed the #22 spot for school librarian/school library media specialist value this year. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,458. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $25,656 in student loans. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $58,302 early in their careers. Set against $25,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Azusa Pacific University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Central Oklahoma earned the #23 position for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $25,000. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $47,741 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of Central Oklahoma admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #24 among the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $17,654 in student loans. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,654 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Plymouth State University landed the #25 spot for school librarian/school library media specialist value this year. Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Plymouth. Students from in state pay about $14,626 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,566. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Plymouth State University generally make around $52,664. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Plymouth State University admits about 88% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s school librarian/school library media specialist value ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
