by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Library & Information Science explores Library And Information Science. A Program That Focuses On The Knowledge And Skills Required To Develop, Organize, Store, Retrieve, Administer, And Facilitate The Use Of Local, Remote, And Networked Collections Of Information In Print, Audiovisual, And Electronic Formats And That Prepares Individuals For Professional Service As Librarians And Information Consultants. Examples: [Library Management]. Read on to learn the essential details every library & information science student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering library & information science programs.
In the U.S., library & information science draws strong interest, with 6,141 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Library & Information Science Schools ranking analyzes these 70 schools to determine the best overall colleges for library & information science students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of library & information science programs later in this article.
Programs in Library & Information Science build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations library & information science graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a library & information science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a library & information science major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several library & information science degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 13 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 110 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,003 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to library & information science tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 29.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 21.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in library & information science careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in library & information science opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to library & information science.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to library & information science.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,167,030 | 8.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | 298,768 | 9.4% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of library & information science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,588 |
| 4 years | $51,908 |
| 5 years | $57,391 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for library & information science graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers library & information science grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,332 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 70 different library & information science programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased library & information science school rankings to help you.
Those considering library & information science, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Archives/Archival Administration | 256 |
| Children and Youth Library Services | 34 |
| Library Science and Administration, Other | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
