2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Library Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

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.

Across the Plains States region, there were 318 library science graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,600 and $33,408 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 289 library science graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 5 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in library science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great library science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the library science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Library Science Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree library science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 5 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Library Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

$22,648 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s library science degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Library Science at UNI

#2

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas

#1 in overall quality

$22,058 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Emporia State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Emporia State University is located in Emporia, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 148 masters’s library science degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree library science students whose families make $0-$30k list, ESU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emporia State University are $22,058, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Library Science at ESU

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

#2 in overall quality

$27,613 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 37 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Library Science at University of Iowa

#4

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

#3 in overall quality

$17,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Catherine University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St Catherine University is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 34 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Kate’s not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full St Catherine University Library Science Report

#5

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

#4 in overall quality

$16,394 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Missouri. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This medium-sized school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 22 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCM are $16,394, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Library Science at UCM

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

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.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to John Cummings.

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