2026 Best Value Library Information Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Library Information Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 86 schools 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 help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated schools to produce 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:
Our analysis found Dominican University to be the best-value Library Information Science school in the United States. Set in River Forest, IL, Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,828 in tuition and fees. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $26,236. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $60,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%. More on Dominican University
You'll get strong value at Emporia State University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Emporia, KS, Emporia State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, compared with $15,419 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,131 in student loans. Median earnings reach $47,601 ten years out. Set against $23,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%. Read the full report on Emporia State University
Out of the 86 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Simmons College landed the #3 spot. Set in Boston, MA, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,874. Students borrow a median of $26,740 to complete their Library Information Science program here. Median earnings reach $63,494 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,740 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted. See the full Simmons College profile
Out of the 86 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Indiana University Bloomington landed the #4 spot. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,742. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants. Get the full Indiana University Bloomington report
Mountwest Community And Technical College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Library Information Science ranking in the United States. Read more about Mountwest Community And Technical College
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce placed #6 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. More on Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Catholic University Of America ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Get the full Catholic University Of America report
Western Kentucky University landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Western Kentucky University
University Of Denver offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. More on University Of Denver
Fresno Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about Fresno Pacific University
Universidad Del Turabo landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Universidad Del Turabo
Palau Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read more about Palau Community College
Wayne State University placed #14 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on Wayne State University
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #15 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College profile
University Of North Texas placed #16 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of North Texas report
University Of Northern Iowa offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read more about University Of Northern Iowa
Blackfeet Community College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. More on Blackfeet Community College
University Of Central Missouri landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Central Missouri
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Sam Houston State University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Sam Houston State University
Haskell Indian Nations University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Haskell Indian Nations University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #23 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
University Of Maine At Augusta placed #24 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Maine At Augusta report
Old Dominion University placed #25 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Old Dominion University
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:
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus profile
University Of Baltimore offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full University Of Baltimore profile
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of South Carolina Columbia report
Marshall University came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Marshall University report
University Of Rhode Island landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
University Of Southern California came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Southern California
Cuny Queens College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on Cuny Queens College
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #33 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Texas A And M University Commerce profile
University Of Memphis ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Memphis
University Of Kentucky offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on University Of Kentucky
University Of Arizona landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Arizona
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
Bennington College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Bennington College
Northeastern State University offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Northeastern State University profile
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Chippewa Valley Technical College report
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #41 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Boston
Southern Connecticut State University offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Southern Connecticut State University
Chicago State University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full Chicago State University profile
Illinois State University came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Illinois State University
Pueblo Community College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. See the full Pueblo Community College profile
Syracuse University landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Syracuse University profile
University Of New Haven landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of New Haven
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
Long Island University C W Post Campus came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Long Island University C W Post Campus
University Of Iowa landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Iowa
Related Library Information Science Value Rankings
Explore 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
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (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).