2026 Best Value Library Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Library Science graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 128 institutions 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.
To arm you with the information you need, Grad Degree evaluated schools to compile 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Long Island University C W Post Campus to be the best-value Library Science school in the United States. Based in Brookville, NY, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,432. Students borrow a median of $25,211 to complete their Library Science program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,950. That is a strong return on a $25,211 median debt. Long Island University C W Post Campus admits about 86% of applicants. Get the full Long Island University C W Post Campus report
You'll get strong value at Texas Womans University, which ranked #2 this year. Texas Womans University is a public school based in Denton, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete their Library Science program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,544. That is a strong return on a $24,211 median debt. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants. Get the full Texas Womans University report
Out of the 128 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, San Jose State University landed the #3 spot. Located in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. San Jose State University alumni report median earnings of $78,988 a decade after entry. San Jose State University has an acceptance rate of 85%. Read more about San Jose State University
Out of the 128 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of North Texas landed the #5 spot. University Of North Texas is a public school based in Denton, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. University Of North Texas Library Science students take on a median of $21,817 in debt. University Of North Texas alumni report median earnings of $57,010 a decade after entry. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%. Read more about University Of North Texas
Emporia State University placed #6 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Emporia State University is a public school based in Emporia, KS. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,106, compared with $15,419 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete their Library Science program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,601. Set against $23,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emporia State University admits about 98% of applicants. Read more about Emporia State University
Pratt Institute Main placed #7 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Pratt Institute Main is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,845 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,103 to complete their Library Science program here. Median earnings reach $54,295 ten years out. Set against $25,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%. Read the full report on Pratt Institute Main
University Of Iowa ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Located in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Median earnings reach $64,762 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 84% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Iowa
St Johns University New York placed #9 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit school based in Queens, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. Graduates carry a median of $25,521 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,571 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%. Get the full St Johns University New York report
Simmons College placed #10 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Simmons College is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. In-state tuition and fees run about $46,874. The median Library Science program debt is $26,740. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,494. That is a strong return on a $26,740 median debt. About 70% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Simmons College profile
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. The median Library Science program debt is $21,348. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College alumni report median earnings of $61,251 a decade after entry. Set against $21,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College has an acceptance rate of 73%. See the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College profile
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #12 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. This public school is set in Milwaukee, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee Library Science students take on a median of $26,657 in debt. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee alumni report median earnings of $54,990 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Set in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete their Library Science program here. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus alumni report median earnings of $63,126 a decade after entry. Set against $23,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus has an acceptance rate of 77%. Get the full University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus report
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,472 in student loans. University Of South Carolina Columbia alumni report median earnings of $62,177 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Arizona landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete their Library Science program here. University Of Arizona alumni report median earnings of $59,979 a decade after entry. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Arizona
Wayne State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Wayne State University is a public school based in Detroit, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical Library Science student debt is $26,689. Median earnings reach $53,493 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. About 81% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Wayne State University
University Of Rhode Island ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Set in Kingston, RI, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. The median Library Science program debt is $23,432. University Of Rhode Island alumni report median earnings of $69,743 a decade after entry. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Rhode Island
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
City College Of San Francisco came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on City College Of San Francisco
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Northern Iowa
College Of The Canyons landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full College Of The Canyons report
Western Kentucky University placed #21 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Read more about Western Kentucky University
Northeast Community College came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Northeast Community College
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico San German
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Greensboro report
The University Of Tennessee ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Read more about The University Of Tennessee
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Library Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
St Catherine University placed #26 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. More on St Catherine University
University Of Central Arkansas offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. More on University Of Central Arkansas
University Of Maryland College Park placed #28 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Maryland College Park report
Palau Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. Get the full Palau Community College report
University Of Kentucky ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. More on University Of Kentucky
Kaskaskia College placed #31 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Get the full Kaskaskia College report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Southern Mississippi profile
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. More on Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce
University Of Baltimore ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. More on University Of Baltimore
University Of Colorado Denver placed #36 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Colorado Denver
Universidad Del Turabo ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. More on Universidad Del Turabo
Dominican University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Dominican University
University Of Memphis offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full University Of Memphis profile
University Of Maine At Augusta placed #40 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Maine At Augusta
Central Community College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. See the full Central Community College profile
Ivy Tech Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about Ivy Tech Community College
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Library Science schools. More on Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Pennsylvania Western University offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. See the full Pennsylvania Western University profile
Western Dakota Technical Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Western Dakota Technical Institute
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #46 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa profile
Appalachian State University offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about Appalachian State University
Ashford University came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Ashford University
White Mountains Community College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about White Mountains Community College
University Of Denver placed #50 among the best-value Library Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Denver
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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Library Science Doctoral 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 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).