Library & Information Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 66 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best library & information science schools.
Choosing a Great Library & Information Science School
The school you choose for library & information science can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Library & Information Science Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Library & Information Science School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Library & Information Science Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best 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.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Rutgers University New Brunswick is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in library & information science. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. About 84% of students finish within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 139 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $54,330. Typical student debt for the program is $25,120.
More information about a degree in library & information science from Rutgers University New Brunswick
San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in library & information science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 846 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full library & information science program report for San Jose State University
Students looking for a strong library & information science program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 14 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $52,828 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
More information about a degree in library & information science from University Of Southern California
Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in library & information science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 13 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896.
See the full library & information science program report for Illinois State University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 141 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $48,752. Typical student debt for the program is $16,481.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #6 spot for library & information science this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 95 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $54,763 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
More information about a degree in library & information science from University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #7 spot for library & information science this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 93 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $44,787. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
Get the full library & information science details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Syracuse University earned the #9 position for library & information science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 111 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $44,225 in their early career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans.
More information about a degree in library & information science from Syracuse University
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #10 spot for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 76 library & information science degrees in the most recent data 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.
Get the full library & information science details for University Of Missouri Columbia
Simmons College landed the #11 spot for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 292 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Simmons College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Simmons College generally make around $46,140. Simmons College graduates carry a median of $26,740 in student loans.
More information about a degree in library & information science from Simmons College
University Of North Texas landed the #12 spot for library & information science this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 297 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $53,934 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete this degree.
Get the full library & information science details for University Of North Texas
University Of Rhode Island ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. University Of Rhode Island graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 74 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $47,709 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in library & information science from University Of Rhode Island
Old Dominion University earned the #14 position for library & information science this year. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. 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. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $57,131 in their early career. Old Dominion University graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans.
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Appalachian State University came in at #15 for library & information science this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Appalachian State University awarded about 34 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $57,702 in their early career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans.
Read more about the library & information science program at Appalachian State University
Cuny Queens College came in at #16 for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 90 library & information science degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from Cuny Queens College earn around $57,950 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,157.
See the full library & information science program report for Cuny Queens College
University At Buffalo ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 113 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $50,173 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,232.
See the full library & information science program report for University At Buffalo
University Of Iowa landed the #18 spot for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Iowa awarded about 87 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $52,881. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans.
More information about a degree in library & information science from University Of Iowa
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #19 among the best library & information science schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 219 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $45,622. Typical student debt for the program is $24,537.
Get the full library & information science details for University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Denver ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Denver awarded about 83 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $47,594. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in library & information science from University Of Denver
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania came in at #21 for library & information science this year. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $39,028 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,867.
Read more about the library & information science program at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Pratt Institute Main landed the #22 spot for library & information science this year. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from Pratt Institute Main earn around $53,238 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,103.
More information about a degree in library & information science from Pratt Institute Main
University Of New Haven placed #23 among the best library & information science schools. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 61 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of New Haven in the most recent year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of New Haven earn around $49,615 in the first couple years of their career. University Of New Haven graduates carry a median of $26,244 in student loans.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of New Haven
University Of Arizona landed the #24 spot for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of Arizona awarded about 93 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $46,021. Typical student debt for the program is $21,861.
More information about a degree in library & information science from University Of Arizona
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #25 position for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. University Of Northern Iowa awarded about 18 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $46,054. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in library & information science from University Of Northern Iowa
Rest of the Top 50 Library & Information Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s library & information science ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 66 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).
