2023 Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k
13
Ranked Colleges
1,336
Degrees Awarded
$12,600
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 5,950 people earned their degree in library and information science, making the major the 121st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, library and information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $43,949 and had an average of $27,472 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southeast region, there were 1,336 library and information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,694 and $22,165 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in library and information science. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent library and information science programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the library and information science program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 54 ’s library science degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $5,729 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. USF Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 ’s library science degrees to qualified students.
USF Tampa also took the #8 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $5,632 for Southeast Region Library Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Library & Information Science Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s library science degrees to 102 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k list, Louisiana State University has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is $15,403 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at Louisiana State University
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, East Carolina University landed the #4 spot on the list. Greenville, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s library science degrees to 79 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for East Carolina University is $13,029 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Library & Information Science at ECU
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Appalachian State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Appalachian State University is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 27 ’s library science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k list, Appalachian State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $9,940 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Appalachian State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Appalachian State University Library & Information Science Report
University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UofSC is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 121 ’s library science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k list, UofSC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UofSC is $16,404 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Library & Information Science at UofSC
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UT Knoxville is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 106 ’s library science degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $13,970 for Southeast Region Library Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Knoxville.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Library & Information Science Report
University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNC Greensboro is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 128 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Greensboro also took the #10 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Greensboro is $9,190 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Library & Information Science at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of Kentucky did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. UK is located in Lexington, Kentucky and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 99 ’s library science degrees to qualified students.
UK also made our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for UK is $13,424 for Southeast Region Library Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Kentucky Library & Information Science Report
Valdosta State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. VSU is a fairly large public school situated in Valdosta, Georgia. It awarded 120 ’s library science degrees in 2020-2021.
VSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Valdosta State University is $12,223 for Southeast Region Library Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at VSU
North Carolina Central University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. North Carolina Central University is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 89 ’s library science degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Carolina Central University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $13,718 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Carolina Central University.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at North Carolina Central University
With a ranking of #12, Western Kentucky University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. WKU is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Kentucky that handed out 28 ’s library science degrees in 2020-2021.
WKU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,211 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend WKU.
Read full report on Library & Information Science at Western Kentucky University
The University of Alabama ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Library Science Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s library science degrees to 80 students in 2020-2021.
UA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Library & Information Science Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UA is $19,434 for southeast region library science students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Library & Information Science at The University of Alabama
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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
- *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
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