by our College Data Analytics TeamLibrary & Information Science was the 134th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 5,696 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 8.9% increase in library and information science degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 5,191.
This year's Best Library & Information Science Schools ranking compares 49 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of library and information science programs later in this article.
When studying Library and Information Science, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific library and information science careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of library and information science degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in library and information science to something that takes less time like a . Different library and information science degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to library and information science, with approximately 43.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to library and information science tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 41.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 28.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 8.6% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 6.0% |
| High School Diploma | 3.4% |
83.6% of library and information science workers have at least a bachelor's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in library and information science have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which library and information science career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your library and information science degree? Library & Information Science careers are expected to grow 8.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to library and information science.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Librarians | 150,600 | 9.0% |
| Library Science Professors | 6,500 | 8.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for library and information science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for library and information science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers library and information science grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Library Science Professors | $75,450 |
| Librarians | $61,530 |
With over 139 different library and information science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased library and information science school rankings to help you with this.
Library & Information Science is one of 2 different types of Library & Information Science programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Archives/Archival Administration | 214 |
| Children & Youth Library Services | 40 |
