[School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/school-librarian-school-library-media-specialist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment 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.
University Of West Georgia earned the #1 spot for value among school librarian/school library media specialist schools in Georgia. Located in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of West Georgia admits about 52% of applicants.
Columbus State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value school librarian/school library media specialist schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for school librarian/school library media specialist graduates is $28,040. Soon after graduation, school librarian/school library media specialist degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $51,154. That is a strong return on a $28,040 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Georgia Southern University one of the best values for school librarian/school library media specialist. 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, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. 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 Georgia Southern University generally make around $41,063. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia College And State University earned it the #4 place for school librarian/school library media specialist. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,186, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia College And State University admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
