by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 71 U.S. colleges awarded 6,308 degrees and certificates in Library & Information Science. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 98% of graduates. College Factual ranks 65 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.
A degree in Library & Information Science explores Library And Information Science. A Program That Focuses On The Knowledge And Skills Required To Develop, Organize, Store, Retrieve, Administer, And Facilitate The Use Of Local, Remote, And Networked Collections Of Information In Print, Audiovisual, And Electronic Formats And That Prepares Individuals For Professional Service As Librarians And Information Consultants. Examples: [Library Management].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., library & information science draws strong interest, with 6,308 degrees awarded annually. 71 colleges award library & information science degrees, an average of 89 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 831.
By level, the 6,308 awards include 10 certificates, 8 associate degrees, 105 bachelor’s degrees, 6,169 master’s degrees and 15 doctorates.
Women earned 83% of library & information science degrees and certificates in the latest year (5,251 of 6,308). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,420) and Hispanic or Latino (788), and international students earned 110.
College Factual ranks 65 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, 71 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: 6,169 of the 6,308 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to library & information science call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a library & information science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 10 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 105 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,169 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 15 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to library & information science, at 29.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 29.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 21.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Library & Information Science, with an average median salary of $110,631; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Medical Record Librarians Teacher, Information Science Professor, Library Professor and Professor.
The occupation related to library & information science with the most projected jobs is Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,167,030.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
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 has 3 similar majors in the Library Science field, which together award 363 degrees a year; the largest are Archives/Archival Administration (324), Children and Youth Library Services (38) and Library Science and Administration, Other (1). Browse all Library Science majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Archives/Archival Administration | 324 |
| Children and Youth Library Services | 38 |
| Library Science and Administration, Other | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
