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Library & Information Science

Instructional content for this group of programs is defined in codes 25.0101 - 25.0199.

Types of Degrees Library & Information Science Majors Are Earning

Those studying Library & Information Science can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	9
Associate’s Degree	13
Bachelor’s Degree	110
Master’s Degree	6,291
Doctor’s Degree	9

What Library & Information Science Majors Need to Know

Programs in Library & Information Science build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Library & Information Science graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Library & Information Science emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Library & Information Science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Library & Information Science careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Library & Information Science graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.6 / 7
Working with Computers	4.6 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Library & Information Science professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft SharePoint	Document management software	—
Extensible markup language XML	Enterprise application integration software	—
Structured query language SQL	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Library & Information Science graduates include:

• Medical Records Library Professor
• Library Technology Instructor
• Library Professor
• Lecturer
• Assistant Professor
• Library Instructor
• Information Science Professor
• Instructor
• Medical Record Librarians Teacher
• Film and Media Program Instructor
• University Faculty Member
• Professor
• Library Science Professor
• Classification Instructor
• College Professor

What Can You Do With a Library & Information Science Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Library & Information Science commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Archivists	1.6%	$53,759	$45,900–$61,618

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Library & Information Science graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	35.4%
Bachelor’s degree	23.2%
Doctoral degree	23.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	4.1%
Post-doctoral training	2.9%
Some college courses	2.6%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.5%
Postsecondary certificate	2.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.0%
Post-master’s certificate	2.0%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Library & Information Science?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 83.8% of Library & Information Science degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	5,388	83.8%
Men	1,044	16.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Library & Information Science graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	4,606	71.6%
Asian	237	3.7%
Hispanic or Latino	721	11.2%
Black or African American	368	5.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native	37	0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	3	0.0%
Two or More Races	206	3.2%
Race Unknown	216	3.4%
International Students	38	0.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Library & Information Science Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Library & Information Science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$48,588
4 years	$51,908
5 years	$57,391

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $57,391 — roughly 18% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Library & Information Science Programs

Online study is tracked by IPEDS for Library & Information Science. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	2	2
Bachelor’s	3	1
Master’s	33	19
Doctoral (Research)	1	2

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Library & Information Science Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Library & Information Science graduates earn a median of $51,908 four years after completion — roughly 37% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Library Science	7,042
Library and Archives Assisting	465
Library Science, Other	145
LIBRARY SCIENCE	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.