Library & Information Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 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.
Leading the list is University Of Missouri Columbia, our #1 school for library & information science. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 83 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $45,466 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
A rank of #2 makes University Of Iowa one of the top schools for library & information science. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $52,881 in their early career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans.
Read more about the library & information science program at University Of Iowa
University Of Northern Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in library & information science, ranking #3. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of Northern Iowa awarded about 23 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,054 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,635.
Get the full library & information science details for University Of Northern Iowa
A rank of #4 makes University Of Nebraska At Omaha one of the top schools for library & information science. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. University Of Nebraska At Omaha awarded about 17 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn around $25,054 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,783.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Emporia State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best library & information science schools. Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 162 library & information science degrees were awarded at Emporia State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Emporia State University generally make around $47,440. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete this degree.
See the full library & information science program report for Emporia State University
University Of Central Missouri earned the #6 position for library & information science this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 27 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Central Missouri earn around $46,099 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,304.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of Central Missouri
St Catherine University placed #7 among the best library & information science schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 29 library & information science degrees were awarded at St Catherine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $46,254 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,883 to complete this degree.
Get the full library & information science details for St Catherine University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 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.
