[Library & Information Science](/majors/library-science/library-information-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for library & information science students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the library & information science degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #1 spot for value among library & information science schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the library & information science program here. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $48,752. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library & information science, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $20,577. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $49,101. Set against $20,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value library & information science schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ashford University earned it the #4 place for library & information science. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,960. Students borrow a median of $35,813 to complete the library & information science program here. Library & Information Science graduates of Ashford University earn a median of $29,163 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Southern California is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library & information science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the library & information science program here. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $52,828. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
