College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

49 Ranked Colleges
5,696 Degrees Awarded
$9,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Library & Information Science is the 134th most popular major in the country with 5,696 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

For this year’s “Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 49 colleges that offer a degree in library and information science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great library and information science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the library and information science program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Library & Information Science Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Library and Information Science Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The library and information science school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Library & Information Science (Income $0-$30k)

1
QC crest
Queens College
Queens, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Queens College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. QC is a fairly large public school situated in Queens, New York. It awarded 94 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at QC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Queens College is $1,344 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Queens College Library & Information Science Report

2

Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #2 spot on the list. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s library and information science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNC Chapel Hill has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $3,753 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Library & Information Science at UNC Chapel Hill

3

Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland - College Park landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Maryland - College Park is a large school located in College Park, Maryland that handed out 103 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

UMCP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” list. It costs about $6,067 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Maryland - College Park.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Library & Information Science at UMCP

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s library and information science degrees to 90 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Library & Information Science at UW - Madison

5

Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #5 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 58 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington also took the #23 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Library & Information Science at Indiana University - Bloomington

6

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s library and information science degrees to 122 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $5,194 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Library & Information Science Report

7

Texas Woman’s University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. TWU is located in Denton, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 347 ’s library and information science degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TWU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,041 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend TWU.

Full Texas Woman’s University Library & Information Science Report

8
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 626 degrees to qualified ’s library and information science students in 2020-2021.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” list. It costs about $12,158 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Jose State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Library & Information Science at San Jose State

9
Rutgers New Brunswick crest
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University - New Brunswick came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rutgers New Brunswick is a large school located in New Brunswick, New Jersey that handed out 194 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

Rutgers New Brunswick also took the #2 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rutgers University - New Brunswick is $14,935 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Library & Information Science at Rutgers University - New Brunswick

10

University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 98 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $4,176 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Library & Information Science at University of South Florida - Main Campus

11

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Louisiana State University is a public institution located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Louisiana State University also made our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $11,318 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Library & Information Science at Louisiana State University

12

University of North Texas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Denton, Texas, this large public school awarded 314 diplomas to qualified ’s library and information science students in 2020-2021.

UNT also took the #22 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,387 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNT.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of North Texas Library & Information Science Report

13

University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 121 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UofSC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,130 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UofSC.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UofSC Library & Information Science Report

14

With a ranking of #14, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Emporia State University is located in Emporia, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 165 ’s library and information science degrees to qualified students.

ESU also made our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Emporia State University is $11,465 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full ESU Library & Information Science Report

15

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 106 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $10,433 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Library & Information Science Report

16
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Boone, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s library and information science degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State University is $7,354 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Library & Information Science at Appalachian State University

17
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 146 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

Wayne State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $11,060 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Library & Information Science at Wayne State

18
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

USC also made our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $17,287 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Library & Information Science at USC

19
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 92 ’s library and information science degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $8,987 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Library & Information Science at University of Arizona

20
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. ECU is a public institution located in Greenville, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 79 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for ECU is $11,260 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Library & Information Science at East Carolina University

21

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CU Anschutz is a large public school situated in Denver, Colorado. It awarded 34 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,404 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CU Anschutz.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Library & Information Science at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

22
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s library and information science degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also took the #18 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,554 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Library & Information Science at Iowa

23

With a ranking of #23, Northeastern State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. NSU is a medium-sized school located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma that handed out 13 ’s library and information science degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,086 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NSU.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Library & Information Science at NSU

24
University at Buffalo crest
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York

University at Buffalo came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s library and information science degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University at Buffalo is $14,098 for Library and Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University at Buffalo Library & Information Science Report

25

With a ranking of #25, Sam Houston State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Huntsville, Texas, this large public school awarded 66 diplomas to qualified ’s library and information science students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Sam Houston State University is $11,210 for library and information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Library & Information Science at SHSU

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options