Library & Information Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their library & information science programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 60 schools to find the best for library & information science students.
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Below are the best library & information science schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Our analysis ranked Rutgers University New Brunswick the best school in the country for a degree in library & information science. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 139 library & information science degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $54,330 in their early career. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong library & information science program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 812 library & information science degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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University Of Southern California came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $52,828 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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Students looking for a strong library & information science program will find one at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 141 library & information science degrees in the most recent data 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.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top schools for library & information science. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. 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.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #6 position for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 93 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $44,787 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. 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. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $47,748 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete this degree.
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Syracuse University came in at #8 for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 111 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $44,225 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #9 for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 76 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $45,466 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818.
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Simmons College earned the #10 position for library & information science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 280 library & information science degrees were awarded at Simmons College in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $46,140 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,740 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rhode Island placed #11 among the best library & information science schools. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish 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. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $47,709 in their early career. University Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans.
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University Of North Texas came in at #12 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 274 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $53,186. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans.
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Old Dominion University came in at #13 for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 128 library & information science degrees were awarded at Old Dominion University in the most recent year. Library & Information Science graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $57,131 early in their careers. Old Dominion University graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans.
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Appalachian State University came in at #14 for library & information science this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. 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. Library & Information Science graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $57,702 early in their careers. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans.
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Cuny Queens College landed the #15 spot for library & information science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Queens. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 90 library & information science degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $57,950. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete this degree.
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University At Buffalo earned the #16 position for library & information science this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 112 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $50,173 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete this degree.
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University Of Denver placed #17 among the best library & information science schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 83 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $47,594 early in their careers. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans.
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University Of Iowa earned the #18 position for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 87 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $52,881 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
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University Of New Haven ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of New Haven graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 61 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Haven in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $49,615 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,244.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #20 spot for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 145 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $45,622 early in their careers. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $24,537 in student loans.
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University Of Northern Iowa came in at #21 for library & information science this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Northern Iowa earn around $46,054 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington came in at #22 for library & information science this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 57 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $45,031 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans.
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Sam Houston State University placed #23 among the best library & information science schools. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Sam Houston State University awarded about 33 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $62,209. Typical student debt for the program is $24,850.
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The University Of Alabama came in at #24 for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. About 158 library & information science degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $44,140 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete this degree.
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Catholic University Of America ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best library & information science schools. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Catholic University Of America in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $62,949. Students borrow a median of $25,771 to complete this degree.
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These schools also placed among the best for library & information science this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Library & Information Science rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 60 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.
