2026 Best Library Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Library Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 128 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than Dominican University this year in the United States. Dominican University is a private not-for-profit school based in River Forest, IL. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,828. Typical Library Science student debt is $26,236. Read the full report on Dominican University
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Indiana University Bloomington Library Science students take on a median of $20,542 in debt. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
Out of the 128 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Emporia State University landed the #3 spot. Set in Emporia, KS, Emporia State University is a public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, while out-of-state students pay about $15,419. Typical Library Science student debt is $23,131. Read more about Emporia State University
Out of the 128 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Simmons College landed the #4 spot. Based 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. Simmons College Library Science students take on a median of $26,740 in debt. More on Simmons College
The strong Library Science programs at Long Island University C W Post Campus earned it the #5 place in the United States. Read the full report on Long Island University C W Post Campus
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras did well this year, earning the #6 position. See the full University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras profile
Palomar College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. See the full Palomar College profile
Suny At Albany ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Library Science schools. More on Suny At Albany
Appalachian State University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. More on Appalachian State University
Illinois Central College landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. More on Illinois Central College
The University Of Alabama landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on The University Of Alabama
University Of Colorado Denver did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full University Of Colorado Denver report
University Of Rhode Island did well this year, earning the #13 position. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
University Of Arizona did well this year, earning the #14 position. Read more about University Of Arizona
Itawamba Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Library Science schools. See the full Itawamba Community College profile
Marshall University placed #16 among Library Science schools in the United States. More on Marshall University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #17 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill profile
Illinois State University placed #18 among Library Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Illinois State University
Monterey Peninsula College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. See the full Monterey Peninsula College profile
University Of Iowa did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on University Of Iowa
Catholic University Of America landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Catholic University Of America report
Mountwest Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Mountwest Community And Technical College
Texas A And M University Commerce came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read more about Texas A And M University Commerce
Cuesta College
Cuesta College placed #24 among Library Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cuesta College
St Catherine University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Library Science schools. Read more about St Catherine University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Library Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Northampton County Area Community College did well this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Northampton County Area Community College profile
Northeast Community College placed #27 among Library Science schools in the United States. More on Northeast Community College
Sacramento City College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. See the full Sacramento City College profile
Drexel University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Library Science schools. Get the full Drexel University report
San Jose State University came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full San Jose State University profile
University Of Nebraska At Omaha did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Palau Community College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Library Science schools. More on Palau Community College
College Of Dupage landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about College Of Dupage
Fresno City College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Library Science schools. More on Fresno City College
Bennington College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. See the full Bennington College profile
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Library Science schools. More on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Pratt Institute Main placed #37 among Library Science schools in the United States. Get the full Pratt Institute Main report
Capital Community College placed #38 among Library Science schools in the United States. Get the full Capital Community College report
Pasadena City College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pasadena City College
North Carolina Central University did well this year, earning the #40 position. More on North Carolina Central University
Tarrant County College District came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Get the full Tarrant County College District report
Kent State University At Kent did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about Kent State University At Kent
Cuny Queens College did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on Cuny Queens College
University Of Southern California came in at #44 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Southern California profile
University Of Baltimore ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Library Science schools. Get the full University Of Baltimore report
University Of Central Arkansas placed #46 among Library Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Central Arkansas
University Of Kentucky placed #47 among Library Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Kentucky
Ivy Tech Community College did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Ivy Tech Community College
East Carolina University placed #49 among Library Science schools in the United States. See the full East Carolina University profile
Central Community College did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Central Community College
Related Library Science Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Library Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Library Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Library Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Library Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Library Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Library Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Library Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 128 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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