2027 Best Value Library Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Library Science](/majors/library-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for library science students.
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2027 Best Value Library Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the library science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Library Science Schools
Leading the list is University Of Maine At Augusta, our #1 best value for library science in the United States. Set in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,888, compared with $22,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $34,536. Library Science graduates of University Of Maine At Augusta earn a median of $45,574 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,536 median debt.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library science, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $21,783. Early-career library science graduates make about $25,054. Set against $21,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in library science will find it at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, while out-of-state students pay about $16,330. Students borrow a median of $26,867 to complete the library science program here. Library Science graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $39,028 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value library science schools. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Library Science graduates carry a median of $24,937 in student loans. Soon after graduation, library science degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $43,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Mississippi admits about 99% of applicants.
Ashford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library science, landing the #5 spot this year. Ashford University is a very large public school located in the city of Chandler. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,960. Students borrow a median of $35,813 to complete the library science program here. Soon after graduation, library science degree recipients from Ashford University generally make around $29,163. Set against $35,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Library Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Library Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Library Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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.