[School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/school-librarian-school-library-media-specialist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for school librarian/school library media specialist students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in school librarian/school library media specialist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Murray State University tops our 2026 list of the best value school librarian/school library media specialist schools in Kentucky. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. Early-career school librarian/school library media specialist graduates make about $47,734. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for school librarian/school library media specialist. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. School Librarian/school Library Media Specialist graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $44,712 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
