2026 Best Value Library Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Library Science](/majors/library-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 128 schools to find the best return on investment for library science students.
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2026 Best Value Library Science Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in library science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Library Science Schools
University Of Nebraska At Omaha tops our 2026 list of the best value library science schools in the United States. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete the library science program here. Library Science graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $25,054 early in their careers. Set against $21,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maine At Augusta earned it the #2 place for library science. University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Augusta. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, with out-of-state students paying around $22,178. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $34,536. Soon after graduation, library science degree recipients from University Of Maine At Augusta generally make around $45,574. Set against $34,536 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern Mississippi earned it the #3 place for library science. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Library Science graduates carry a median of $24,937 in student loans. Library Science graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $43,862 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Southern Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library science, landing the #4 spot this year. Southern Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, with out-of-state students paying around $16,942. Typical student debt for library science graduates is $24,660. Soon after graduation, library science degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $59,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Ashford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in library science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,960. Students borrow a median of $35,813 to complete the library science program here. Library Science graduates of Ashford University earn a median of $29,163 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,813 median debt.
Other Library Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value library science schools at other degree levels:
View All Library Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.