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2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

51 Ranked Colleges
4,965 Degrees Awarded
$25,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 5,894 people earned their degree in library science, making the major the 35th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, library science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $41,658 and had an average of $36,277 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,965 library science graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 51 colleges that offer a degree in library science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality library science programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the library science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Library Science Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Library Science (Income $0-$30k)

#1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Read full report on Library Science at UNC Chapel Hill

#2

Queens College

Queens, New York
#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Queens College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Queens College is a public institution located in Queens, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 117 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

QC also took the #13 spot in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Queens College are $21,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Queens College Library Science Report

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 84 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Library Science at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#4

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Maryland - College Park. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. UMCP is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 86 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

UMCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885.

Read more about Library Science at UMCP

#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 126 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Library Science Report

#6

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 54 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Full UCLA Library Science Report

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 82 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Library Science at University of South Florida - Main Campus

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s library science degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Full IU Bloomington Library Science Report

#18 in overall quality

Texas Woman’s University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Denton, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 187 diplomas to qualified masters’s library science students in 2019-2020.

TWU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Woman’s University are $14,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full TWU Library Science Report

#10

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#23 in overall quality

University of North Texas ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNT is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 258 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UNT Library Science Report

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is located in Denver, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus are $23,915, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Library Science at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

#12

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

With a ranking of #12, Appalachian State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Appalachian State is a large school located in Boone, North Carolina that handed out 24 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Appalachian State are $21,439.

Read full report on Library Science at Appalachian State University

#13

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#8 in overall quality

San Jose State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 566 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790.

Read full report on Library Science at San Jose State

#14

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 8 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Iowa are $22,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Library Science at UNI

#15

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. SHSU is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 58 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Sam Houston State University are $15,704, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Library Science at Sam Houston State University

#16

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 135 diplomas to qualified masters’s library science students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are $21,918, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Library Science Report

#17

Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Rutgers University - New Brunswick did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, this large public school awarded 167 diplomas to qualified masters’s library science students in 2019-2020.

Rutgers New Brunswick also made our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rutgers New Brunswick are $32,132.

Read more about Library Science at Rutgers New Brunswick

#24 in overall quality

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, this large public school handed out 100 diplomas to qualified masters’s library science students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree library science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Knoxville has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville are $31,798.

Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Library Science Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 103 diplomas to qualified masters’s library science students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Library Science at IUPUI

#20

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#25 in overall quality

East Carolina University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. East Carolina University is located in Greenville, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 83 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree library science students whose families make $0-$30k list, ECU has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at East Carolina University are $20,685, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Library Science at ECU

#21

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Emporia, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s library science degrees to 148 students in 2019-2020.

ESU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at ESU are $22,058, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Emporia State University Library Science Report

#22

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii

University of Hawaii at Manoa came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UH Manoa is a fairly large school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 17 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Manoa also took the #0 spot in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Hawaii at Manoa are $34,550.

Read more about Library Science at University of Hawaii at Manoa

#23

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
#11 in overall quality

University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 116 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

UofSC also made our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at UofSC are $30,160, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Library Science at University of South Carolina - Columbia

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and it awarded 43 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree library science students whose families make $0-$30k list, Louisiana State University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College are $29,970.

Read more about Library Science at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

#25

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. URI is a fairly large school located in Kingston, Rhode Island that handed out 33 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at URI are $29,082, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Library Science at URI

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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