2026 Best Value Library Information Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Library Information Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 86 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Library Information Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Dominican University this year in the United States. Based in River Forest, IL, Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. The median Library Information Science program debt is $26,236. Median earnings reach $60,327 ten years out. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Dominican University
Emporia State University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Library Information Science ranking in the United States. Set in Emporia, KS, Emporia State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete their Library Information Science program here. Median earnings reach $47,601 ten years out. Set against $23,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted. See the full Emporia State University profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Simmons College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Boston, MA, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,874 in tuition and fees. The median Library Information Science program debt is $26,740. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,494. Set against $26,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Simmons College has an acceptance rate of 70%. Read the full report on Simmons College
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the best values in the United States. Set in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. The median Library Information Science program debt is $20,542. Median earnings reach $63,742 ten years out. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Indiana University Bloomington profile
You'll get strong value at Trevecca Nazarene University, which ranked #5 this year. Get the full Trevecca Nazarene University report
Catholic University Of America ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full Catholic University Of America profile
Southern Connecticut State University placed #7 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on Southern Connecticut State University
Marshall University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read more about Marshall University
Texas A And M University Commerce landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Texas A And M University Commerce
Drexel University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. See the full Drexel University profile
Palau Community College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Palau Community College profile
Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Long Island University C W Post Campus
Kent State University At Kent landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Kent State University At Kent
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill report
The University Of Tennessee came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee
Wayne State University placed #16 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on Wayne State University
University Of Denver offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on University Of Denver
Western Kentucky University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Western Kentucky University
East Carolina University placed #19 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full East Carolina University profile
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee profile
Texas Womans University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read more about Texas Womans University
Bennington College came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full Bennington College profile
Chicago State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read the full report on Chicago State University
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full University Of Maryland College Park profile
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Library Information Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #26 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Get the full Rutgers University New Brunswick report
Sam Houston State University came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. More on Sam Houston State University
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #28 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Get the full Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania report
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
University Of North Texas offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on University Of North Texas
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus report
Old Dominion University came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Old Dominion University report
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Suny At Albany
Illinois State University placed #34 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Illinois State University profile
St Catherine University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full St Catherine University report
Fresno Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Fresno Pacific University
Blackfeet Community College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. More on Blackfeet Community College
Ashford University placed #38 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Ashford University profile
University Of Colorado Denver offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full University Of Colorado Denver report
University Of Memphis came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Memphis
Cuny Queens College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Cuny Queens College
Appalachian State University offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. More on Appalachian State University
University Of Kentucky ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full University Of Kentucky profile
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. More on University Of South Florida Main Campus
Mountwest Community And Technical College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Mountwest Community And Technical College report
San Jose State University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on San Jose State University
Haskell Indian Nations University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Haskell Indian Nations University
Related Library Information Science Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Library Information Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Library Information Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Information Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Information Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Information Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Information Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · 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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