2026 Best Value Library Information Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Library Information Science graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 86 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Long Island University C W Post Campus to be the best-value Library Information Science school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Brookville, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $42,432. The median Library Information Science program debt is $25,211. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,950. That is a strong return on a $25,211 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%. Read the full report on Long Island University C W Post Campus
A rank of #2 makes Texas Womans University one of the best values in the United States. Located in Denton, TX, Texas Womans University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $24,211. Median earnings reach $56,544 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Womans University has an acceptance rate of 96%. Read the full report on Texas Womans University
Out of the 86 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, San Jose State University landed the #3 spot. San Jose State University is a public school based in San Jose, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. San Jose State University alumni report median earnings of $78,988 a decade after entry. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants. See the full San Jose State University profile
Out of the 86 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of North Texas landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Denton, TX. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $21,817. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $57,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%. Get the full University Of North Texas report
University Of Iowa offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Iowa City, IA. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $24,463. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $64,762. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%. More on University Of Iowa
St Johns University New York offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Queens, NY, St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,529 in tuition and fees. The median Library Information Science program debt is $25,521. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $69,571. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Johns University New York has an acceptance rate of 83%. Read more about St Johns University New York
Simmons College placed #8 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Set in Boston, MA, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,874. Simmons College Library Information Science students take on a median of $26,740 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,494 ten years after entry. Set against $26,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 70% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Simmons College
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #9 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,954 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Graduates carry a median of $21,348 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $61,251. Set against $21,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College has an acceptance rate of 73%. See the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College profile
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Set in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee Library Information Science students take on a median of $26,657 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,990. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee has an acceptance rate of 91%. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee report
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Set in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete their Library Information Science program here. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus alumni report median earnings of $63,126 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,138 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus report
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Located in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Graduates carry a median of $24,472 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,177. Set against $24,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of South Carolina Columbia report
University Of Arizona landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Tucson, AZ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $21,861. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,979. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%. Read more about University Of Arizona
Wayne State University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $26,689. Wayne State University alumni report median earnings of $53,493 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. About 81% of those who apply are admitted. More on Wayne State University
University Of Rhode Island placed #15 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. University Of Rhode Island is a public school based in Kingston, RI. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. University Of Rhode Island Library Information Science students take on a median of $23,432 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $69,743. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Rhode Island has an acceptance rate of 72%. See the full University Of Rhode Island profile
Texas A And M University Commerce came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Texas A And M University Commerce report
University Of Southern California ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Middle Tennessee State University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. See the full Middle Tennessee State University profile
Bennington College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Bennington College profile
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of South Florida Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about University Of South Florida Main Campus
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. More on Chippewa Valley Technical College
Pennsylvania Western University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on Pennsylvania Western University
University Of Memphis came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Memphis
University Of Central Missouri placed #25 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Central Missouri
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Library Information Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Colorado Denver
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Illinois State University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. More on Illinois State University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Mountwest Community And Technical College placed #30 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Mountwest Community And Technical College profile
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #31 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis profile
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full Southern Connecticut State University profile
University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. More on University Of Massachusetts Boston
Marshall University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Marshall University
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
Pueblo Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about Pueblo Community College
Old Dominion University offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on Old Dominion University
East Carolina University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full East Carolina University profile
North Carolina Central University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read more about North Carolina Central University
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Houston Clear Lake
The University Of Tennessee offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. More on The University Of Tennessee
Cuny Queens College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Cuny Queens College report
University Of Hawaii At Manoa offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. More on University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Chicago State University placed #44 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Get the full Chicago State University report
University Of Southern Mississippi offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full University Of Southern Mississippi report
Syracuse University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Get the full Syracuse University report
Ashford University offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Ashford University
University Of Denver placed #48 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Denver profile
The University Of Alabama offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full The University Of Alabama report
St Catherine University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. More on St Catherine 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Information Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · 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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