[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for school librarian/school library media specialist students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in school librarian/school library media specialist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Murray State University earned the #1 spot for value among school librarian/school library media specialist schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $47,734. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in school librarian/school library media specialist, landing the #2 spot this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $44,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of West Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in school librarian/school library media specialist, landing the #3 spot 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of University Of West Georgia earn a median of $50,413 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in school librarian/school library media specialist will find it at Columbus State University, which ranked #4. Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, with out-of-state students paying around $17,610. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $28,040. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $51,154. Set against $28,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value school librarian/school library media specialist schools. Set in the town of Natchitoches, Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,864, with out-of-state students paying around $19,652. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,962 in student loans. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $46,458. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value school librarian/school library media specialist schools. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Magnolia. Students from in state pay about $9,960 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $12,000. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn a median of $44,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Old Dominion University placed #7 among the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $44,883. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University landed the #8 spot for school librarian/school library media specialist value this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. 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 Georgia Southern University generally make around $41,063. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
Longwood University placed #9 among the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. Students from in state pay about $15,740 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,980 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,649 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $53,792 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,649 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Georgia College And State University came in at #10 for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,186 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,512. Students borrow a median of $24,412 to complete the school librarian/school library media specialist program here. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $52,718. That is a strong return on a $24,412 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #11 for value in school librarian/school library media specialist this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Students from in state pay about $38,700 in tuition and fees. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $70,595. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 11 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.
