Library & Information Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 81 schools to find the best for library & information science students.
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Choosing a Great Library & Information Science School
The library & information science program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Library & Information Science Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Library & Information Science School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Library & Information Science Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Library & Information Science Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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ADBLOCK #171
Best Schools for Library & Information Science in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the library & information science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Rutgers University New Brunswick, our #1 school for library & information science. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. About 84% of students finish within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 144 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $54,330 in their early career. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
Read more about the library & information science program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in library & information science, ranking #2. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 25 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $52,828. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full library & information science details for University Of Southern California
San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in library & information science, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 764 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in library & information science from San Jose State University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the top schools for library & information science. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 106 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $54,763. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best library & information science schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 126 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $48,752 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
Get the full library & information science details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #6 for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 77 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $47,748 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #7 position for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 97 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $44,787 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Syracuse University earned the #8 position for library & information science this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Syracuse University awarded about 107 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from Syracuse University earn around $44,225 in the first couple years of their career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans.
More information about a degree in library & information science from Syracuse University
Cuny Queens College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best library & information science schools. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. Cuny Queens College awarded about 74 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $57,950 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,157.
Get the full library & information science details for Cuny Queens College
Simmons College earned the #10 position for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Simmons College graduates 72% of students within six years. Simmons College awarded about 141 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $46,140 early in their careers. Simmons College graduates carry a median of $26,740 in student loans.
Get the full library & information science details for Simmons College
University Of Rhode Island ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best library & information science schools. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 55 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $47,709 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,432.
Read more about the library & information science program at University Of Rhode Island
University At Buffalo earned the #12 position for library & information science this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 132 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $50,173 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete this degree.
See the full library & information science program report for University At Buffalo
University Of Denver came in at #13 for library & information science this year. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 90 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $47,594 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in library & information science from University Of Denver
University Of North Texas placed #14 among the best library & information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Denton. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 267 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $53,934. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete this degree.
Read more about the library & information science program at University Of North Texas
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #15 for library & information science this year. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. Pennsylvania Western University graduates 52% of students within six years. About 161 library & information science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent year.
Get the full library & information science details for Pennsylvania Western University
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best library & information science schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 56 library & information science degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $45,031 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,542.
More information about a degree in library & information science from Indiana University Bloomington
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #17 for library & information science this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 83 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $45,466 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818.
Read more about the library & information science program at University Of Missouri Columbia
Sam Houston State University placed #18 among the best library & information science schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Huntsville. Sam Houston State University graduates 55% of students within six years. About 45 library & information science degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the library & information science program make about $62,209 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete this degree.
Read more about the library & information science program at Sam Houston State University
Appalachian State University came in at #19 for library & information science this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 38 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $57,702. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans.
See the full library & information science program report for Appalachian State University
University Of Iowa landed the #20 spot for library & information science this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from University Of Iowa earn around $52,881 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of Iowa
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best library & information science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 174 library & information science degrees in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $45,622 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete this degree.
See the full library & information science program report for University Of South Carolina Columbia
Catholic University Of America landed the #22 spot for library & information science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 24 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Catholic University Of America in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, library & information science degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $62,949. Typical student debt for the program is $25,771.
Get the full library & information science details for Catholic University Of America
Old Dominion University placed #23 among the best library & information science schools. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Old Dominion University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 68 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their library & information science degree from Old Dominion University earn around $57,131 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,001.
More information about a degree in library & information science from Old Dominion University
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best library & information science schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 library & information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,054 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete this degree.
Read more about the library & information science program at University Of Northern Iowa
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #25 spot for library & information science this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 68 library & information science degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Library & Information Science graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $41,490 early in their careers. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
Get the full library & information science details for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Library & Information Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong library & information science education:
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Library & Information Science Related Rankings by Major
Explore other rankings in majors related to Library & Information Science. See all related rankings.
ADBLOCK #115
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 81 schools evaluated.
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).
