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

2026 Best Value Library Science Associate’s Degree Schools

1 Colleges in the United States
$13,511 Avg Student Debt
$41,398 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Library Science Associate's Degree Badge [Library Science](/majors/library-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 128 schools to find the best return on investment for library science students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/library-science/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 3
DEBUG: ROOT LEVEL MAJOR detected (no cip4), lowering min_relevance to 0.5
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.5, 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 >= 0.5
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 Science Schools in the United States

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

Best Value Library Science Schools

1

Our analysis ranked Central Carolina Community College the best value for a degree in library science in the United States. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $10,266. Soon after graduation, library science degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2
Long Beach City College crest
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA

Long Beach City College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value library science schools. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Students from in state pay about $1,556 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,544. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $6,000. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the library science program here. Early-career library science graduates make about $31,514. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4

Students looking for strong value in library science will find it at City College Of San Francisco, which ranked #4. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,696, compared with $14,656 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $10,332. Soon after graduation, library science degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Set against $10,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5

A rank of #5 makes Spokane Falls Community College one of the best values for library science. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Falls Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Library Science graduates carry a median of $17,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, library science degree recipients from Spokane Falls Community College generally make around $34,901. That is a strong return on a $17,031 median debt.

ADBLOCK #101
6
San Bernardino Valley College crest
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino Valley College landed the #6 spot for library science value this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,196, with out-of-state students paying around $4,528. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $19,500. Early-career library science graduates make about $69,642. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.

7
Cuesta College crest
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College came in at #7 for value in library science this year. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,350, while out-of-state students pay about $11,010. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $18,958. Library Science graduates of Cuesta College earn a median of $64,492 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

Other Library Science Degree Levels

Explore the best-value library science schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Library Science
Bachelor's Degrees in Library Science
Master's Degrees in Library Science
ADBLOCK #173
View All Library Science Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 128 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