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by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2021-2022, 6,318 people earned their degree in library & information science, making the major the 121st most popular in the United States. In , library & information science graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $43,949 and had an average of $35,367 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major” ranking, we looked at 77 colleges that offer a degree in library & information science. That schools that top this list have a program in library & information science in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
The library 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 “Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major”.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for library science students.
Out of the 77 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Simmons University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 288 diplomas to qualified ’s library science students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 77 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Emporia State University landed the #3 spot on the list. ESU is a medium-sized school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 181 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 77 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Dominican University landed the #4 spot on the list. Dominican U is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 115 ’s library science degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Library & Information Science at Dominican University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 763 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Library & Information Science at San Jose State
Texas Woman’s University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. TWU is a fairly large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 291 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
North Carolina Central University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking. North Carolina Central University is a medium-sized school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 94 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full North Carolina Central University Library & Information Science Report
Valdosta State University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. Valdosta State University is a fairly large school located in Valdosta, Georgia that handed out 121 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.
University of Maine at Augusta came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking. This small school is located in Augusta, Maine, and it awarded 28 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #10, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 96 diplomas to qualified ’s library science students in 2021-2022.
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%.
With a ranking of #11, University of Southern Mississippi did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 159 ’s library science degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at Southern Miss
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 133 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Pratt Institute - Main landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking. Pratt Institute is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 0 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Pratt Institute - Main Library & Information Science Report
Kent State University at Kent landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 142 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 Kent State University at Kent Library & Information Science Report
With a ranking of #15, University of North Texas did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. UNT is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 334 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
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 more about Library & Information Science at University of North Texas
St Catherine University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking, coming in at #16. St Catherine University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 48 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
With a ranking of #17, Catholic University of America did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. CUA is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 31 ’s library science degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, 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 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Library & Information Science at Catholic University of America
With a ranking of #18, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. Wayne State University is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 151 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Queens College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large school is located in Queens, New York, and it awarded 101 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at Queens College
Syracuse University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Syracuse, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 95 degrees to qualified ’s library science students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at Syracuse University
Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking. Texas A&M Commerce is a public institution located in Commerce, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Library & Information Science at Texas A&M University - Commerce
Rutgers University - New Brunswick landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking. New Brunswick, New Jersey is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s library science degrees to 196 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at Rutgers New Brunswick
With a ranking of #23, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s library science degrees to 127 students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%.
LIU Post ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major list. LIU Post is a fairly large school located in Brookville, New York that handed out 59 ’s library science degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Library Science Major ranking, coming in at #25. SHSU is located in Huntsville, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 50 ’s library science degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 more about our data sources and methodologies
