2026 Best Library Information Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Library Information Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 86 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Library Information Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is Dominican University, our #1 Library Information Science school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in River Forest, IL. Dominican University graduates 55% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Dominican University Library Information Science students take on a median of $26,236 in debt. Read more about Dominican University
Out of the 86 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Indiana University Bloomington landed the #2 spot. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. The median Library Information Science program debt is $20,542. More on Indiana University Bloomington
Out of the 86 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Emporia State University landed the #3 spot. Based in Emporia, KS, Emporia State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $23,131. See the full Emporia State University profile
You'll be in good company at Simmons College, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Boston, MA, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $46,874 in tuition and fees. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $26,740. Get the full Simmons College report
A rank of #5 makes North Carolina Central University one of the top choices in the United States. Read more about North Carolina Central University
University Of Rhode Island landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Rhode Island
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
Middle Tennessee State University placed #9 among Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Middle Tennessee State University profile
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #10 among Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Massachusetts Boston
University Of South Carolina Columbia did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Sam Houston State University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. See the full Sam Houston State University profile
College Of Southern Idaho placed #13 among Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of Southern Idaho
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Library Information Science schools. More on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Mountwest Community And Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Library Information Science schools. More on Mountwest Community And Technical College
Valdosta State University landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Valdosta State University
Southern Connecticut State University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Southern Connecticut State University report
University Of Baltimore landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Baltimore
Chippewa Valley Technical College did well this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Chippewa Valley Technical College profile
Blackfeet Community College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. See the full Blackfeet Community College profile
University Of Southern California placed #21 among Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
University Of Memphis did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about University Of Memphis
Pennsylvania Western University placed #23 among Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read more about Pennsylvania Western University
University Of Kentucky did well this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about University Of Kentucky
University Of Denver did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on University Of Denver
Rest of the Top 50 Best Library Information Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Hawaii At Manoa
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #27 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Pratt Institute Main landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pratt Institute Main
University Of New Haven landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of New Haven
Kent State University At Kent did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Kent State University At Kent report
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Old Dominion University placed #32 among Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read more about Old Dominion University
East Carolina University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. See the full East Carolina University profile
Emory And Henry College did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Emory And Henry College
Western Kentucky University placed #35 among Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Western Kentucky University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
University Of Central Missouri came in at #37 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Central Missouri profile
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Haskell Indian Nations University came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full Haskell Indian Nations University report
Bennington College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Read more about Bennington College
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read more about Rutgers University New Brunswick
Palau Community College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Palau Community College
The University Of Alabama did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on The University Of Alabama
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Library Information Science schools. Get the full University Of Colorado Denver report
Wayne State University landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. See the full Wayne State University profile
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read more about Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
St Catherine University did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full St Catherine University profile
Syracuse University did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Syracuse University
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce did well this year, earning the #49 position. More on Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce
Illinois State University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Library Information Science schools. More on Illinois State University
Related Library Information Science Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Library Information Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Library Information Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Library Information Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Library Information Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Library Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Library Information Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Library Information Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 86 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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