2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Library & Information Science in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 5,191 people earned their degree in library and information science, making the major the 141st most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 301 library and information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 289 library and information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 5 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in library and information science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great library and information science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the library and information science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 5 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Library & Information Science in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas

#1 in overall quality

$22,058 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Emporia State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. This medium-sized school is located in Emporia, Kansas, and it awarded 148 masters’s library and information science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree library and information science students with aid list, ESU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Library & Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emporia State University are $22,058, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Emporia State University Library & Information Science Report

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

$22,648 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 8 masters’s library and information science degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #0 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Iowa are $22,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Library & Information Science at UNI

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

#2 in overall quality

$27,613 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 37 masters’s library and information science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree library and information science students with aid list, Iowa has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Library & Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Iowa Library & Information Science Report

#4

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

#4 in overall quality

$16,394 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Missouri. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Central Missouri is a public institution located in Warrensburg, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Library & Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCM are $16,394, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Library & Information Science at University of Central Missouri

#5

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

#3 in overall quality

$17,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Catherine University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Library and Information Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 34 diplomas to qualified masters’s library and information science students in 2019-2020.

St. Kate’s did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Library & Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Library & Information Science at St Catherine University

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Library & Information Science (With Aid)

Notes and References

References

• 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).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Diliff.

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