Library & Information Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for library & information science students pursuing a degree.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the library & information science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best school in the country for a degree in library & information science. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 70 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $47,748. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
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Old Dominion University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in library & information science, ranking #2. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Old Dominion University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 128 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete this degree.
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Appalachian State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in library & information science, ranking #3. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. Appalachian State University awarded about 34 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $57,702. Students borrow a median of $21,992 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of South Carolina Columbia one of the top schools for library & information science. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 219 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $45,622 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,537.
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The University Of Alabama is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in library & information science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 160 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $44,140. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #6 spot for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 250 library & information science degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Library & Information Science graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $44,718 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,348.
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East Carolina University placed #7 among the best library & information science schools. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 87 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from East Carolina University earn around $50,867 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,747.
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The University Of Tennessee came in at #8 for library & information science this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 97 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $45,400. Typical student debt for the program is $22,859.
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University Of Southern Mississippi earned the #9 position for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern Mississippi awarded about 195 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $43,862 in their early career. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates carry a median of $24,937 in student loans.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 123 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of South Florida Main Campus earn around $45,659 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans.
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Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #11 spot for library & information science this year. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Trevecca Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $52,004 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete this degree.
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University Of Kentucky earned the #12 position for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of Kentucky awarded about 61 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $39,315 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #13 among the best library & information science schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. About 56% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 142 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $45,185 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,977.
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Middle Tennessee State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Murfreesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 17 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $46,127 in the first couple years of their career. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $22,754 in student loans.
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Western Kentucky University earned the #15 position for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Kentucky University awarded about 40 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $51,244 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,499.
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Valdosta State University landed the #16 spot for library & information science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Valdosta. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 133 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Valdosta State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $44,126 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,661 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina Central University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina Central University awarded about 78 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $48,381 early in their careers. North Carolina Central University graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.
- 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.