The field of library science has changed over the past few decades. No longer do librarians wander through musty bookshelves looking for lost volumes. Librarians today are professionals who excel at technology and information retrieval. They are skilled at assessing source materials and choosing the highest-quality data for their clients and patrons.
Librarians may work in public or school libraries, but they are just as likely to be found in government agencies or corporate venues. They may work with children and adults or special groups, such as law firms or government agencies. To become a librarian, you must earn your master of library science (MLS) degree.
In this article, we’ll look at some affordable online master’s in library science programs and give you a snapshot of the state of professional librarianship in the U.S. today.
How To Reduce the Cost of Your Master’s in Library Science Program
The cost of a master’s degree in library science varies depending on several factors. In general, the cost of tuition at a public institution is less than that charged by private colleges and universities. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average annual cost of an undergraduate degree at a public institution in 2020-21 was $9,400, while the average cost at a private institution was $37,600.
Another factor that plays a role in determining what you will pay for your MLS is whether you attend an in-state or out-of-state school. With the rise in popularity of online education, students are increasingly choosing colleges that may be located far from where they live. They may, however, pay more for this benefit, as many institutions charge significantly more for out-of-state students.
For example, Texas A&M’s MS in educational technology/library science costs $3,669 for Texas-based graduate students taking nine credit hours. If you do not live in Texas, you will pay $7,341 for the same number of credit hours.
However, if your heart is set on a program that an out-of-state private institution offers, don’t assume it will be out of your reach financially. There are some solid strategies you can use to reduce costs that may bring that seemingly pricey program within reach.
To begin with, be sure to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in a timely manner. This application will help determine if there are federal scholarships, grants, or loan opportunities you can access. Your school may also use the FAFSA to determine if you are eligible for school-based aid, including work-study opportunities or teaching assistantships. Ensure that your FAFSA is completed correctly and submitted by the deadline to save money on your education.
You may also be able to source financial assistance from private funders. Nonprofit organizations, corporations, and professional associations often offer scholarship programs to students in need. It’s worth spending an afternoon searching for possibilities online and may pay off with significant assistance. Here are a few options to get you started:
- ALA Scholarship Program: the American Library Association awards more than $300,000 each year to master’s-level students in library science. There are a variety of scholarship options, including those for specialty or practice areas and scholarships for people from underrepresented groups.
- Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies: FALIS is an ALA publication that features 73 pages of scholarships and other financial assistance for library science students, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, as well as state-funded options. The current edition was published in 2019-2020, so some opportunities may no longer be available, but it’s worth checking for its broad range of offerings.
- ALSC Frederic G. Melchor Scholarship: sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children, this scholarship provides $8,000 for a student or students who wish to work in children’s librarianship.
The Current Career Outlook for Librarians
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), individuals need their MLS degree to enter the field as professional librarians or library media specialists. If they do not have this degree, they may work as library clerks or assistants. There are several venues in which librarians work in the corporate, government, and nonprofit worlds.
Job responsibilities and work environment
Librarians purchase, organize, and use library materials to aid patrons. These materials may be books, but they may also be audiovisual equipment, databases, journals, and more. They may help patrons undertake reference projects and plan activities such as classes and workshops for their patrons.
Librarians play a variety of roles, including the following:
- Academic librarians: Assist students, faculty, and staff at colleges and universities. They may help students or faculty find resources for research projects and are likely to offer classes to help patrons learn how to research a topic properly. Some academic librarians have special areas of expertise. For example, a medical school will have librarians skilled in medical research.
- Administrative services librarians: These professionals manage libraries, build budgets, and undertake fundraising activities for the library.
- Public librarians: These professionals serve in the 17,000+ public libraries in the U.S. They are likely to have an in-depth knowledge of their collection and may plan events such as story hours or educational programming.
- School librarians: Work in schools with groups ranging from pre-K to high school. They help students learn how to use library resources and aid teachers in developing lesson plans.
- Special librarians: May work for corporations, legal firms, hospitals, and other entities to serve the needs of those who work at that organization.
Average pay
The median annual wage for librarians and library media specialists was $61,190 in May 2021, according to the BLS. The lowest ten percent earned less than $37,300, while the highest ten percent earned more than $97,870. Librarians employed by colleges, universities, and professional schools had the highest annual median wage, at $62,550. Curators and archivists had the lowest median salary of $49,060.
Projected job growth
The job outlook for librarians is generally positive, with expected annual growth over the next decade of six percent, according to the BLS. Current employment of librarians in the U.S. stands at roughly 138,400, while it is anticipated that 146,400 will be needed to fill positions by 2031.
Our Research
This list features some of the country’s most affordable online Master’s in Library Science programs. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution, either public or private, with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of the most affordable online Master’s in Library Science programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The 50 Most Affordable Online Master’s In Library Science Programs
