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? Our ranking highlights 86 colleges 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, Grad Degree reviewed 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Located in Brookville, NY, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,432. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $25,211. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,950. Set against $25,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. See the full Long Island University C W Post Campus profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas Womans University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Denton, TX, Texas Womans University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,640, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Graduates carry a median of $24,211 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,544. Set against $24,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Texas Womans University report
You'll get strong value at San Jose State University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 85%. Read the full report on San Jose State University
Out of the 86 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of North Texas landed the #5 spot. Located in Denton, TX, University Of North Texas is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $21,817. Median earnings reach $57,010 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $21,817 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%. Read more about University Of North Texas
University Of Iowa offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. University Of Iowa Library Information Science students take on a median of $24,463 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,762. That is a strong return on a $24,463 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%. More on University Of Iowa
St Johns University New York landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Queens, NY, St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,529. Graduates carry a median of $25,521 in student loans. Median earnings reach $69,571 ten years out. Set against $25,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. St Johns University New York has an acceptance rate of 83%. See the full St Johns University New York profile
Simmons College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Boston, MA, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $46,874. Graduates carry a median of $26,740 in student loans. Median earnings reach $63,494 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Simmons College admits about 70% of applicants. See the full Simmons College profile
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #9 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school based in Baton Rouge, LA. Students from in state pay about $11,954 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. The median Library Information Science program debt is $21,348. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $61,251. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%. Get the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College report
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,990. Set against $26,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Typical Library Information Science student debt is $23,138. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,126. That is a strong return on a $23,138 median debt. About 77% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #12 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Based in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. University Of South Carolina Columbia Library Information Science students take on a median of $24,472 in debt. University Of South Carolina Columbia alumni report median earnings of $62,177 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,472 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Arizona ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Set in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. University Of Arizona Library Information Science students take on a median of $21,861 in debt. University Of Arizona alumni report median earnings of $59,979 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arizona has an acceptance rate of 86%. More on University Of Arizona
Wayne State University offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Wayne State University is a public school based in Detroit, MI. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. The median Library Information Science program debt is $26,689. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,493 ten years after entry. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Wayne State University report
University Of Rhode Island landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Kingston, RI, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. 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. The acceptance rate is 72%. Read the full report on University Of Rhode Island
Dominican University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read more about Dominican University
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Suny At Albany
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Northern Iowa profile
Appalachian State University placed #18 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Get the full Appalachian State University report
University Of Southern Mississippi ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Get the full University Of Southern Mississippi report
Emory And Henry College placed #20 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Emory And Henry College
University Of Baltimore placed #21 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Baltimore
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Middle Tennessee State University
Mountwest Community And Technical College placed #23 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Mountwest Community And Technical College profile
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
East Carolina University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on East Carolina University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Library Information Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University Of Central Missouri placed #26 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Central Missouri
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #27 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa profile
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #29 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on Texas A And M University Commerce
University Of Memphis came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Memphis profile
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska At Omaha
The University Of Alabama landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full The University Of Alabama report
University Of Maine At Augusta offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on University Of Maine At Augusta
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #34 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Boston
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. More on Pennsylvania Western University
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Colorado Denver
St Catherine University placed #37 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on St Catherine University
University Of Denver landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Denver report
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #39 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Chippewa Valley Technical College profile
Universidad Del Turabo offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. More on Universidad Del Turabo
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #41 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Missouri Columbia
University Of New Haven ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Read the full report on University Of New Haven
Drexel University landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Drexel University
Marshall University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Information Science schools. Get the full Marshall University report
Haskell Indian Nations University came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. More on Haskell Indian Nations University
Pratt Institute Main landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Pratt Institute Main profile
Bennington College placed #47 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. See the full Bennington College profile
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #48 among the best-value Library Information Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Rutgers University New Brunswick
Sam Houston State University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. See the full Sam Houston State University profile
Ashford University came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Ashford University report
Related Library Information Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for 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 Grad Degree (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).