2026 Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Associate’s Degree 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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
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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2026 Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the library & archives assisting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Schools
Our analysis ranked Central Carolina Community College the best value for a degree in library & archives assisting in the United States. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Students borrow a median of $10,266 to complete the library & archives assisting program here. Early-career library & archives assisting graduates make about $38,198. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Long Beach City College one of the best values for library & archives assisting. Located in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,556 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,544. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $6,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,870. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in library & archives assisting will find it at College Of Dupage, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $12,492. Soon after graduation, library & archives assisting degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $31,514. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library & archives assisting, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,696, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Typical student debt for library & archives assisting graduates is $10,332. Early-career library & archives assisting graduates make about $100,031. That is a strong return on a $10,332 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Spokane Falls Community College one of the best values for library & archives assisting. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Falls Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,461, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,031 to complete the library & archives assisting program here. 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 landed the #6 spot for library & archives assisting value this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,196, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
Cuesta College ranked #7 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. Library & Archives Assisting graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans. Library & Archives Assisting graduates of Cuesta College earn a median of $64,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,958 median debt.
Other Library & Archives Assisting Degree Levels
Explore the best-value library & archives assisting schools at other degree levels:
View All Library & Archives Assisting Rankings >
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 · 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.