Best Library Science Schools in the Country for 2021

Featured Programs:

Our Selection Criteria

To that end, we analyzed the more than four dozen graduate-level library science degrees that have earned accreditation from the American Library Association (ALA), which is considered a prerequisite for employment in many library science roles. From a smaller group of finalists, we selected these 25 programs based on how well they balance several factors.

Reviewed: 50+
Curated: 35
Top Picks: 25

Reputation: How the university and program are thought of by peers.
Credibility: How well the school ranks in major ratings publications.
Value: Comparison of the educational quality to total tuition costs.
Popularity: A measure of search volume about the university and degree program.

About Library Science Degrees

While the programs on our list represent our opinion of the best library science degrees taking into account cost, reputation and value, your mileage may vary. Perhaps a specific specialization or concentration is most important to, or maybe your deciding factor will be whether you can earn the degree online.

Here is a look at the factors most library science students weigh when making their decisions:

Cost: The figures we listed and used in our rankings cover the total expected cost of tuition, but remember that there are expenses beyond tuition. Various fees may apply depending on the specific courses you take, and there will likely be other costs you encounter.
Flexibility: Some but not all programs are offered online. Others are offered only on-campus, while some give students the option and others have a hybrid approach where some work is done online but some face-to-face time is required. Additionally, some programs may be designed to be completed on a full-time basis, but most allow room for part-time students.
Accreditation: For the purposes of this ranking, we only considered programs that have earned accreditation from the American Library Association (ALA). In any educational field, various bodies weigh in on whether a program is rigorous enough to meet their standards, and accreditation can be an important signal to a future employer. But in the library science field, ALA accreditation is often a prerequisite to even being considered for a job, as many public and school librarian roles are subject to licensure rules that mandate applicants have master’s degrees from ALA-accredited programs.
Degree type: Graduate degrees in library science come with a variety of names, all of which signal slight differences in curriculum and program focus. The most common you’ll find on this list is a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), but others include Master of Science in Information Studies (MSIS), Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS) and Master of Arts in Library and Information Science (MALIS).
Specialization: Particularly for those who have a clear picture of their career goals, specializations and concentrations are crucial. That’s because if you’re hoping to become a school librarian, a library science degree that focuses on, say, archiving is unlikely to provide you with the training you’ll need to earn state licensure. Some institutions refer to these as degree paths or career pathways, but those all are terms for concentrations or specializations.

Best Master’s in Library Science Programs for 2021

Take a look at some details of the degrees, specializations, cost and more of the 25 library science master’s degree programs to make our list. Exploring the details of these programs should help you narrow down the list of schools you’re considering, but be sure to do your own digging to find out what aspects of each program are most important for you. And consider contacting the admissions offices of each program (information is included for each), as these offices are staffed by experts who have answers to pretty much any question you could have.

SCHOOLS IN THIS RANKING

#1 University of South Florida

With a wide range of specializations and a total in-state tuition cost that’s less than $15,000, the University of South Florida’s Master of Arts in Library and Information Science earns the top spot in our ranking. With 39 credits required for graduation, most students will need at least three years to complete their degree, which is capped off with an eportfolio experience in which students get a chance to showcase their educational experience. This degree can be completed entirely online or in a traditional classroom setting.

Accreditation

Program Overview

Degree: Master of Arts in Library and Information Science
Total expected tuition cost: $13,586 in-state; $30,096 out-of-state
Credits required: 39
Specializations: Information Storage and Retrieval, Public Librarianship, Academic Librarianship, School Media Specialist, Archives and Records Management, Visualization of Information, Information Technology, Human Information Behavior, Information Policy and Information Literacy

Format & Admissions

Format: Traditional, online
GRE: Required without undergraduate GPA of at least 3.25

Contact

Phone: (813) 974-3520

Best Library Science Schools in the Country for 2021

Our Selection Criteria

About Library Science Degrees

Best Master’s in Library Science Programs for 2021

SCHOOLS IN THIS RANKING

#1 University of South Florida

#2 University of California Los Angeles

#3 University of Maryland

#4 University of Texas

#5 Queens College (CUNY)

#6 University of Alabama

#7 University of Missouri

#8 University of Kentucky

#9 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

#10 Rutgers University

#11 Kent State University

#12 University of Washington

#13 Chicago State University

#14 Emporia State University

#15 Louisiana State University

#16 San Jose State University

#17 LIU Post – Long Island University

#18 University of Pittsburgh

#19 Syracuse University

#20 University of Southern Mississippi

#21 Clarion University of Pennsylvania

#22 Drexel University

#23 St. Catherine University

#24 Catholic University of America

#25 St. John’s University

Conclusion

SEARCH MASTERS IN LIBRARY SCIENCE DEGREES