by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 74 U.S. colleges awarded 6,671 degrees and certificates in Library & Information Science. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 98% of graduates. College Factual ranks 66 schools in its 2027 Best Library & Information Science Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $48,588 one year after completing, rising to $56,663 after four years.
Librarians are essential tools for research. They help students and the general public find books, magazines, articles and resources, while providing education on writing, plagiarism and properly referencing sources.
Many students are attracting to this field due to their love of reading. While this major will involve literature classes, you will also be learning how to develop and work with data bases, as well as how to organize, store and retrieve information. Some of the classes you will take are library media methods, resources for young adults, storytelling, cataloging and classification, collection development, and literature.
Concentrations in this major include: Library and Information Science; Children and Youth Library Services; Archives Administration; Library and Science Administration; and Library and Archives Assisting.
Studying Library & Information Science covers Library Science And Administration.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, library & information science is a widely-pursued major, with 6,671 degrees awarded annually. 74 colleges award library & information science degrees, an average of 90 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 846.
By level, the 6,671 awards include 13 certificates, 8 associate degrees, 105 bachelor’s degrees, 6,529 master’s degrees and 15 doctorates.
Women earned 83% of library & information science degrees and certificates in the latest year (5,551 of 6,671). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,707) and Hispanic or Latino (821), and international students earned 111.
College Factual ranks 66 schools in its 2027 Best Library & Information Science Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 60 for master’s degrees. It also ranks library & information science schools within 4 states. In all, 74 colleges offer library & information science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Library & Information Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common library & information science credential is the master’s degree: 6,529 of the 6,671 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to library & information science call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Customer and Personal Service and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Successful students in this field tend to be very organized people. Students should be resourceful and creative as they will be employed in a variety of tasks from day to day. Public speaking skills will help you as a professional leading a workshop for different groups such as writing a resume or avoiding plagiarism. These workshops will help you stay proficient with your skills and will allow you to be confident in your teaching.
Loving books and technology is only part of the major. You should also enjoy working with people of all ages. Depending on your specialization, you could be working with students as young as 4, college students or retired adults. This is a career that involves continual learning. Professionals will need to stay current with understanding data bases and technology.
It will also be helpful to work with students either as a coach, tutor, or camp counselor to practice talking to and explaining things to children. To get experience in the field, you should work as a volunteer or a staff member in the library. This will give you a better understanding of the inner workings of a library.
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How long a library & information science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 13 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 105 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,529 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 15 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to library & information science, at 35.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 35.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 23.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.9% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Library & Information Science, with an average median salary of $104,944; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Lecturer, Associate Professor, Library Instructor and Library Professor.
To be certified in library science you must pursue a Master's Degree. Otherwise you will only be qualified to work as a school librarian or a librarian technician. A library technician is essential to help keep the library running smoothly, but do not get paid as much as librarians. Careers as librarians and library technician are growing slowly, and competition may be high. Those willing to move may have better chances of finding work in their field. However, the skills learned in this major can also be used in a variety of other professions, like education.
The occupation related to library & information science with the most projected jobs is Archivists, at 1,193,221.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Archivists | 1,193,221 | 1.6% |
| Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,167,030 | 8.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | 298,768 | 9.4% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Library & Information Science graduates earn a median $48,588 one year after completing their program, $56,663 after four years and $57,411 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,588 |
| 4 years | $56,663 |
| 5 years | $57,411 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to library & information science is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,332 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Library & Information Science includes 4 concentrations that together award 6,671 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Library and Information Science (6,308), Archives/Archival Administration (324) and Children and Youth Library Services (38). It has 2 similar majors in the Library Science field, which together award 675 degrees a year; the largest are Library and Archives Assisting (540) and Library Science, Other (135). Browse all Library Science majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Library and Information Science | 6,308 |
| Archives/Archival Administration | 324 |
| Children and Youth Library Services | 38 |
| Library Science and Administration, Other | 1 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Library and Archives Assisting | 540 |
| Library Science, Other | 135 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
