[Library & Information Science](/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong library & information science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 66 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value library & information science schools.
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Where you study library & information science affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Library & Information Science Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Library & Information Science Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in library & information science, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in library & information science, no school beat Cuny Queens College this year. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the library & information science program here. Library & Information Science graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $57,950 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value library & information science schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $15,117. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $47,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of South Florida Main Campus one of the best values for library & information science. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $21,829. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $45,659. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #4 place for library & information science. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $26,582. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $69,347. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value library & information science schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete the library & information science program here. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,977 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
Dominican University landed the #6 spot for library & information science value this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Library & Information Science graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $47,396 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas Womans University landed the #7 spot for library & information science value this year. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,640, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $24,211 in student loans. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $58,543. That is a strong return on a $24,211 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #8 among the best values for library & information science. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the library & information science program here. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $42,458. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Valdosta State University came in at #9 for value in library & information science this year. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $28,661 in student loans. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Valdosta State University generally make around $44,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
San Jose State University came in at #10 for value in library & information science this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Western Kentucky University landed the #11 spot for library & information science value this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the library & information science program here. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $51,244. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Commerce landed the #12 spot for library & information science value this year. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,026, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $23,796. Library & Information Science graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $60,756 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University Commerce admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Maine At Augusta earned the #13 position for value in library & information science this year. Located in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,888, with out-of-state students paying around $22,178. Students borrow a median of $34,536 to complete the library & information science program here. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Maine At Augusta earn a median of $45,574 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,536 median debt.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #14 spot for library & information science value this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $16,481. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $48,752. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value library & information science schools. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $21,783. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $25,054. Set against $21,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Old Dominion University came in at #16 for value in library & information science this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $26,001. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
Wayne State University placed #17 among the best values for library & information science. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $44,885. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Chicago State University earned the #18 position for value in library & information science this year. Chicago State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,754, with out-of-state students paying around $12,757. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans. Library & Information Science graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $47,477 early in their careers. Set against $43,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Chicago State University admits about 43% of applicants.
Northeastern State University landed the #19 spot for library & information science value this year. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. Students from in state pay about $7,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,465 to complete the library & information science program here. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $50,973. Set against $23,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern State University admits about 100% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #20 position for value in library & information science this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete the library & information science program here. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $46,127. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value library & information science schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the library & information science program here. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $54,763. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas came in at #22 for value in library & information science this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $21,817. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $53,934. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #23 among the best values for library & information science. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $46,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value library & information science schools. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete the library & information science program here. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $44,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #25 position for value in library & information science this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete the library & information science program here. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $46,099. Set against $24,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s library & information science value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 66 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 66 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.
