2026 Best Value Library Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Library Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 128 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on 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 analyzed 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 Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Our analysis found Dominican University to be the best-value Library Science school in the United States. Dominican University is a private not-for-profit school based in River Forest, IL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. The median Library Science program debt is $26,236. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $60,327. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Dominican University
Emporia State University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Library Science ranking in the United States. Located in Emporia, KS, Emporia State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Typical Library Science student debt is $23,131. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,601 ten years after entry. Set against $23,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted. See the full Emporia State University profile
A rank of #3 makes Simmons College one of the best values in the United States. Set in Boston, MA, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $46,874. Students borrow a median of $26,740 to complete their Library Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,494 ten years after entry. 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
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #4 on this year's best-value Library Science ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Bloomington, IN. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,742 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
Out of the 128 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, College Of Southern Idaho landed the #5 spot. See the full College Of Southern Idaho profile
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #6 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Boston
University Of North Texas offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. See the full University Of North Texas profile
Northeast Community College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northeast Community College
San Bernardino Valley College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Read more about San Bernardino Valley College
Ashford University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Read more about Ashford University
Diablo Valley College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Diablo Valley College
University Of Kentucky landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Kentucky report
University Of Southern Mississippi ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Get the full University Of Southern Mississippi report
St Johns University New York came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. More on St Johns University New York
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Pennsylvania Western University placed #16 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Read more about Pennsylvania Western University
Universidad Del Turabo offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. More on Universidad Del Turabo
Monterey Peninsula College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Get the full Monterey Peninsula College report
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #19 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Get the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College report
Valdosta State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. More on Valdosta State University
Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Trevecca Nazarene University
University Of Iowa came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Iowa
Pueblo Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. See the full Pueblo Community College profile
Southern Connecticut State University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on Southern Connecticut State University
Belmont College
Belmont College placed #25 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. More on Belmont College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Library Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
Catholic University Of America landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Catholic University Of America profile
Fresno Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Fresno Pacific University report
College Of The Canyons ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Read the full report on College Of The Canyons
North Carolina Central University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. More on North Carolina Central University
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College placed #31 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. More on City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce placed #32 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. More on Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce
Long Beach City College placed #33 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Long Beach City College
Pratt Institute Main ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. More on Pratt Institute Main
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Maryland College Park
Syracuse University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Syracuse University
The University Of Tennessee came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. More on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Chippewa Valley Technical College
Northeastern State University offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Northeastern State University
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Suny At Albany
Tarrant County College District offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. More on Tarrant County College District
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. See the full Rutgers University New Brunswick profile
University Of Southern California placed #45 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Southern California
University Of Maine At Augusta placed #46 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Maine At Augusta
University Of Memphis landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Memphis
White Mountains Community College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Get the full White Mountains Community College report
Bennington College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Bennington College report
University Of New Haven offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on University Of New Haven
Related Library Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Library Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Library Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 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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