ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region

1 Colleges in the United States
$24,054 Avg Student Debt
$54,129 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Library & Information Science Badge [Library & Information Science](/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for library & information science students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/library-information-science/library-and-information-science/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 3
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 25.01), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Library Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Grad Cert - Library Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Library Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Library Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Library Media (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Library Media (I Have a Masters)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 3
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 3 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 3
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 2 offers with relevance >= 1.0

2026 Best Value Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the library & information science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Library & Information Science Schools

1

Leading the list is University Of South Florida Main Campus, our #1 best value for library & information science in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $45,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for library & information science. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $24,977. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $45,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for library & information science. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $15,117. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $47,748. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.

4
Western Kentucky University crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value library & information science schools. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $24,499. Library & Information Science graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $51,244 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.

5

Middle Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library & information science, landing the #5 spot this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete the library & information science program here. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $46,127. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.

ADBLOCK #101
6

Valdosta State University earned the #6 position for value in library & information science this year. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Students borrow a median of $28,661 to complete the library & information science program here. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $44,126. Set against $28,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.

7

Old Dominion University came in at #7 for value in library & information science this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $26,001. Library & Information Science graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $57,131 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.

8

University Of Southern Mississippi placed #8 among the best values for library & information science. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $24,937. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $43,862 early in their careers. Set against $24,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.

9

Trevecca Nazarene University placed #9 among the best values for library & information science. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,300. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $24,962. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Trevecca Nazarene University generally make around $52,004. That is a strong return on a $24,962 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.

10

Appalachian State University came in at #10 for value in library & information science this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $57,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.

ADBLOCK #115
11

North Carolina Central University placed #11 among the best values for library & information science. North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,699, with out-of-state students paying around $19,735. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $48,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina Central University admits about 87% of applicants.

12

East Carolina University placed #12 among the best values for library & information science. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $24,747. Library & Information Science graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $50,867 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.

13

University Of Kentucky landed the #13 spot for library & information science value this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $24,094. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $39,315. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.

14

The University Of Tennessee came in at #14 for value in library & information science this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $22,859. Library & Information Science graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $45,400 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

15

Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #15 among the best values for library & information science. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Typical student debt for library & information science graduates is $21,348. Early-career library & information science graduates make about $44,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.

ADBLOCK #145
16

The University Of Alabama came in at #16 for value in library & information science this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the library & information science program here. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $44,140. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.

17

University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #17 among the best values for library & information science. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Library & Information Science graduates carry a median of $24,472 in student loans. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $45,622 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Library & Information Science Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 22 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options