2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

Library & Information Science is the 124th most popular major in the country with 5,403 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, library and information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $41,496 and had an average of $36,654 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 301 library and information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,600 and $33,408 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 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. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality library and information science programs that also have a lower cost than 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The library science school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree library science students with 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

$40,341 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Emporia State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Emporia, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s library science degrees to 148 students in 2019-2020.

ESU also took the #1 spot 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 ESU Library & Information Science Report

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

$22,648 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$45,696 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified masters’s library science students in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Library & Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNI are $22,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Northern Iowa Library & Information Science Report

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

#2 in overall quality

$27,613 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$41,937 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school handed out 37 degrees to qualified masters’s library science students in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #2 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 Iowa are $27,613, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Library & Information Science at Iowa

#4

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

#4 in overall quality

$16,394 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$41,565 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Missouri. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UCM is a medium-sized school located in Warrensburg, Missouri that handed out 22 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCM also took the #4 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 Central Missouri are $16,394, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Central Missouri Library & Information Science Report

#5

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

#3 in overall quality

$17,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$46,407 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Catherine University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Library Science Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. St. Kate’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 34 masters’s library science degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Kate’s not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Library & Information Science Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Kate’s are $17,400, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full St. Kate’s Library & Information Science Report

• 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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