An online Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) gives you the credentials to work in libraries, universities, archives, and beyond, all while balancing the responsibilities of everyday life. This guide ranks the best online MLIS programs available today and explores the career paths, salaries, and key benefits that come with earning this versatile degree.The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:
Author: Blake Huggins, PhD
Expertise: Graduate EducationOnline LearningBusiness AdministrationEditor: Kristin Marino
- Which Student Are You?
Find the Library Science Program Type That's Right for You
Read more - Spotlights
Three Accredited Online MLIS Programs
Read more - Benefits
Why Earn an MLIS Online?
Read more - Curriculum
What You'll Learn in an Online Library Science Master's Program
Read more - Accreditation
Accreditation for Online Library Science Master's Degree Programs
Read more - Salary/Pay
Salary Outlook with an MLIS
Read more - Top Schools
Top-Tier Online Library Science Master’s Programs
Read more
Find the Library Science Program Type That’s Right for You
An ALA-accredited MLIS is the baseline for most librarian jobs, but programs still split sharply between academic, public, and archival tracks, plus fully online versus hybrid formats. Choose one that doesn’t match your target role and you’ll be adding coursework later. The rundown below can help you narrow down the right fit.
How Would You Describe Yourself as a Library Science Student?
The Career Starter
You’ve just finished your bachelor’s and want the ALA-accredited generalist foundation you need before choosing a specialization like archives, youth services, or academic librarianship.
ALA accreditation is non-negotiable in this field — most librarian jobs require a degree from an ALA-accredited program, so confirm that status before you look at anything else. A full-time, hybrid pace lets you move through the core curriculum quickly while still getting in-person exposure to library settings before you specialize.
The Career Changer
You’re moving into librarianship from an unrelated field and want a program that doesn’t assume prior library work experience.
MLIS programs are built for career changers by design — a prior library science background isn’t expected — but ALA accreditation still matters just as much for you as for anyone else, since most employers require it regardless of your path in. A fully online format also lets you complete the degree while working in your current job.
The Promotion Seeker
You’re already working as a library assistant or paraprofessional and need the MLIS credential itself to become a credentialed librarian and move into roles with more responsibility.
In this field, the MLIS isn’t just a resume booster — it’s typically the credential that legally distinguishes a librarian from a paraprofessional, so confirm ALA accreditation before enrolling. A part-time, hybrid format lets you keep your current library job and the institutional knowledge it gives you while you complete the degree.
The Working Balancer
You’re balancing a full-time job and family responsibilities and need an MLIS program that fits around your schedule rather than requiring you to be on campus.
A fully online, asynchronous format lets you complete coursework and readings on your own time, and a part-time pace keeps the workload manageable given everything else on your plate.
The Archives Specialist
You’re drawn to preserving and organizing historical records and materials — in archives, special collections, or records management — rather than public-facing library work.
An archival studies concentration builds skills specific to this work — arrangement and description, digital preservation, records management — that a generalist MLIS curriculum only touches on briefly. A required practicum also matters here, since archives and special collections employers typically expect hands-on experience with real materials before they’ll hire you.
The Library Media Specialist
You want to work as a K-12 school librarian, which usually means pairing your MLIS with a state teaching or media specialist certification, not just the degree alone.
Most states require school librarians to hold a specific school library media certification in addition to — or combined with — the MLIS, and requirements vary significantly by state, so confirm a program is aligned with your state’s licensure track before enrolling. A hybrid format also lets you complete any required school-based fieldwork while continuing to work or study.
Three Accredited Online MLIS Programs
Three popular online library science master’s programs are profiled below. These programs were chosen based on their flexible delivery, affordable tuition, and accreditation by the American Library Association (ALA) – all essential components of any quality online MLIS program.
University of Washington
The University of Washington’s Information School offers an online master of library and information science program that prepares graduates for work in data curation, information architecture, and academic, public, or school librarianship. The 63-credit program includes courses in information technology, knowledge organization, and research design. Its asynchronous delivery accommodates a variety of schedules and draws on the same faculty, curriculum, and learning objectives as the school’s residential program.
Students must attend a 3-day on-campus orientation session that overviews the program and gives an opportunity to meet faculty and network with fellow cohort members before beginning online study. For those interested in the legal field, UW offers a law librarianship focus to prepare them for work as legal information professionals. The school also offers several endowed and merit-based scholarships.
University of Southern California
Administered by the Marshall School of Business, the University of Southern California’s online master of management in library and information science requires 31 credits, and most students complete the program in as few as 20 months before then assuming key roles in special collections, metadata analysis, and a range of public and private libraries. The curriculum includes core courses that build knowledge foundations in library science fundamentals and information management along with electives in subjects like instructional design, archival studies, and collections development.
USC delivers all content for its online master’s in library science using flexible learning technologies to make it convenient for students to complete their training. The program runs on 15-week semesters and is designed to be completed in five consecutive terms. Prospective students do not need to complete the GRE for admission but must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree and possess relevant work experience.
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida offers a master’s in library science online that focuses on information professions in diverse cultural contexts. The program requires 39 credits, including six foundational courses plus a range of exploratory classes in areas like information visualization and information technology, data storage, records management, and information literacy. USF’s program also offers a pathway for aspiring school librarians or media specialists to obtain licensure and certification.
In addition to traditional coursework, students also complete a comprehensive exam and produce a professional portfolio. The school offers the program in fully online formats using asynchronous methods with some options for hybrid or face-to-face learning. Applicants need recent GRE scores and are eligible for several scholarships and financial aid opportunities USF sets aside for aspiring library science professionals.
Why Earn an MLIS Online?
Earning a master’s in library science online comes with a unique set of benefits that go beyond having a bachelor’s degree alone. This credential adds value to your professional portfolio by increasing your earning power and broadening your employment prospects. The primary benefits of earning an online MLIS include:
Quick and Convenient
Online library science master’s programs offer more flexibility than in-person study. They can accommodate various circumstances and schedules, enabling you to pursue the degree in a way that meets your needs. Online learning not only gives you greater freedom to explore your own interests in library science, it also puts you on a quicker path to completion.
Lower Tuition Rates
Earning your master’s in library science online saves you money. In addition to offering competitive financial aid packages, most programs also extend affordable tuition rates and offer flat-rate fee schedules for online learning rather than charging different rates depending on residency.
Targeted Career Advancement
Online MLIS programs blend broad information science instruction with concentrated study that deepens your skillset. This means you’ll have a solid, transferable background in library science along with specialized training in the subfield of your choice.
What You’ll Learn in an Online Library Science Master’s Program
Online master’s in library science students learn about the history and development of the field, including its origins and philosophical underpinnings and its interaction with new and emerging technologies. Curricula build proficiency in data management and information services, information classification, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Most programs blend theory-based learning with interactive experiences geared toward practical application. Most schools have students complete a sequence of core courses, like those discussed below, with a cohort while building foundations in information science. You’ll then move to more hands-on or specialized requirements. You can also expect to complete a special project like a comprehensive exam, professional portfolio, or capstone research project near the end of your studies.
Common Courses
Fundamentals of Library Science and Information Services
This core course surveys the history and development of information science professions with a focus on contemporary legal, ethical, and technological issues. It overviews the profession, including looking at its main subfields (e.g., archival studies and collections management) and major theoretical frameworks.
Information Science Research Methods
This class builds foundational knowledge in the qualitative and quantitative research methods used by librarians and information science professionals. Students consider procedures for gathering information, analyzing research, and organizing knowledge for public consumption. Texts include literature reviews and historical readings as well as contemporary case studies.
Collections Management
This course focuses on the key steps and processes involved in curating and maintaining special library collections. Topics include policy preparation, community evaluation, records and database administration, and asset acquisition. Students also look at new technologies in collections management and implement new solutions in a final project.
Information Literacy
Typically an upper-level seminar, this course focuses on information literacy and looks at how this concept has shifted in the 21st century. Students learn to apply information literacy principles in online environments and consider the role of the librarian as an advocate for information literacy in the digital age.
Capstone Project
During their final semester of study, most students complete an integrative capstone project. Specifics vary depending on the program and chosen concentration. In these projects, students apply what they’ve learned about information and library science to solve real-world problems in schools, public libraries, and private archives.
Specialization Paths
Most schools offer individualized specialization paths as part of their curriculum that allow you to tailor your experience, ensuring that your online library science master’s degree aligns with your professional goals. They’re also a great way to build additional skills and help you stand out as a competitive job applicant. Below are examples of library science specializations along with information on what you can expect to learn in each.
Archives and Record Management
This specialization focuses on the skills and knowledge necessary to appraise, collect, and preserve a range of significant artifacts (e.g., texts, images, objects, historical records, etc.). Core classes look at electronic records management, archive organization, taxonomies for catalogs, and other areas. Some schools also offer hands-on internship opportunities.
School Librarianship
A key prerequisite for aspiring school librarians, this concentration prepares you for professional work in primary or secondary settings. It focuses on state-level licensure requirements and trains students for additional responsibilities as media specialists and information literacy professionals. Students specializing in this area graduate with certification as K-12 school librarians.
Public Librarianship
This pathway trains students for leadership roles in public libraries. Courses prepare you for interaction with patrons of all ages and walks of life. Instruction covers work with diverse populations along with project management, community programming administration, and working with genealogical sources.
Information Organization and Management
An ideal option for students interested in metadata and web-based librarianship, this specialization builds proficiency in information organization standards and the key tools used to uphold them. The curriculum looks at internet privacy concerns, data mining, information policy, and database architecture. Students graduate as experts in project management and information interfacing.
Research and Information Services
This concentration prepares students to help library patrons with targeted research efforts in a variety of settings. You’ll learn to conduct high-level research and navigate between multiple tools and databases depending on the subject and desired outcomes. Curricula looks at prominent research methods, instruction strategies, and delivery systems for information services.
Accreditation for Online Library Science Master’s Degree Programs
There are two forms of accreditation important for a master’s in library science. Institutional accreditation applies to entire schools. Independent bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation grant either regional or national accreditation to institutions that meet their standards of quality and excellence. Any school you consider should possess institutional accreditation.
Programmatic accreditation has a narrower scope. It pertains to individual programs rather than the whole school and is in addition to institutional accreditation. In library science, programmatic accreditation is administered by the American Library Association (ALA). Graduating from a program with ALA accreditation broadens your career prospects and increases your value and mobility.
Salary Outlook with an MLIS
A Master of Library and Information Science is the standard credential for professional librarian positions across public libraries, academic libraries, school libraries, and special libraries in corporate, legal, and medical settings. Graduates work as librarians, archivists, information managers, digital collections specialists, and knowledge management leads — preserving and organizing information in an increasingly digital landscape. The degree is required for most professional library positions.
Librarian compensation varies by library type and geographic location, with academic and special libraries — particularly law and medical libraries — typically offering stronger salaries than public library systems. Government and university positions often come with competitive benefits packages.
Browse the salary table below to see what librarians and media collections specialists earn across states, and benchmark library science compensation in your area.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
| Area | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $68,270 | $84,480 | $103,990 |
| Alabama | $64,650 | $74,090 | $78,310 |
| Alaska | $78,810 | $97,710 | $98,530 |
| Arizona | $60,500 | $75,070 | $96,490 |
| Arkansas | $56,800 | $63,160 | $73,210 |
| California | $89,790 | $108,800 | $132,870 |
| Colorado | $76,480 | $84,260 | $101,280 |
| Connecticut | $79,210 | $99,120 | $116,720 |
| Delaware | $77,700 | $95,070 | $102,160 |
| District of Columbia | $96,550 | $108,780 | $126,660 |
| Florida | $67,060 | $77,620 | $92,240 |
| Georgia | $76,750 | $84,300 | $101,730 |
| Hawaii | $68,270 | $82,400 | $97,760 |
| Idaho | $54,130 | $70,740 | $90,950 |
| Illinois | $62,700 | $80,690 | $103,540 |
| Indiana | $53,500 | $65,720 | $79,300 |
| Iowa | $58,440 | $76,040 | $86,600 |
| Kansas | $61,900 | $74,510 | $80,570 |
| Kentucky | $65,200 | $76,840 | $85,190 |
| Louisiana | $60,650 | $64,240 | $78,240 |
| Maine | $59,540 | $73,890 | $83,640 |
| Maryland | $88,570 | $105,070 | $123,910 |
| Massachusetts | $78,540 | $97,710 | $109,060 |
| Michigan | $60,010 | $76,240 | $89,750 |
| Minnesota | $77,650 | $90,510 | $99,990 |
| Mississippi | $56,970 | $62,030 | $68,970 |
| Missouri | $58,700 | $73,810 | $86,850 |
| Montana | $63,870 | $78,550 | $84,440 |
| Nebraska | $64,060 | $77,490 | $92,860 |
| Nevada | $84,540 | $95,150 | $102,940 |
| New Hampshire | $63,580 | $81,940 | $94,300 |
| New Jersey | $78,380 | $99,770 | $107,050 |
| New Mexico | $62,530 | $75,540 | $97,490 |
| New York | $78,590 | $99,530 | $129,970 |
| North Carolina | $61,420 | $73,900 | $83,650 |
| North Dakota | $62,830 | $75,940 | $98,000 |
| Ohio | $60,630 | $76,460 | $92,900 |
| Oklahoma | $58,180 | $64,200 | $82,650 |
| Oregon | $78,070 | $93,620 | $116,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,880 | $81,120 | $98,490 |
| Rhode Island | $75,860 | $94,670 | $100,990 |
| South Carolina | $62,640 | $77,130 | $92,890 |
| South Dakota | $51,210 | $60,600 | $77,500 |
| Tennessee | $62,090 | $74,130 | $80,140 |
| Texas | $71,860 | $81,710 | $100,790 |
| Utah | $53,730 | $77,440 | $99,890 |
| Vermont | $62,360 | $75,160 | $86,070 |
| Virginia | $77,430 | $94,380 | $107,600 |
| Washington | $100,030 | $118,540 | $129,690 |
| West Virginia | $42,980 | $56,960 | $63,130 |
| Wisconsin | $66,870 | $79,290 | $85,970 |
| Wyoming | $46,530 | $60,420 | $74,290 |
Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes254022.htm
Data does not reflect school-specific information.
Paying for Your Online Master’s in Library Science
Understanding the financial commitments this degree requires and developing a funding plan puts you in a good position to graduate with fewer obstacles and less stress. Fortunately, there are quite a few financial aid opportunities available for MLIS students. In fact, many of the schools discussed in this guide administer grants or scholarships to students in library or information science.
Professional organizations like the American Library Association also extend opportunities to new and returning library science students. For more information, see our online graduate education financial aid guide and our resources on master’s degree scholarships and employer tuition assistance.
How Much Your Online Master’s in Library Science Could Cost
| School Name | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Est. Total Tuition Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University Online Master of Library and Information Science | 36 | $560 | $20,160 |
| Drexel University Online Master’s in Library & Information Science | 45 | $1,000 | $45,000 |
| University of Arizona Library and Information Science – Master of Arts | 37 | $900 | $33,300 |
FAQs About Online Library Science Master’s Degrees
What are the typical admissions requirements for an online master’s in library science?
Like most graduate programs, online library science master’s programs require an accredited bachelor’s degree for admission. Applicants also need:
- An updated resume
- A statement of purpose explaining your goals and fit within the program
- Letters of recommendation (usually 2-3)
- Official academic transcripts
Some programs also ask for a writing sample or recent GRE scores. However, these elements aren’t always required and are waived in certain cases. Non-native English speakers usually need to provide proof of language proficiency.
How long will it take to finish my master’s in library science online?
Taking the schools profiled above as examples, the University of Washington administers its program on a part-time basis and expects students to graduate in three years. Others, like USC and USF, offer a more expedited path to completion with full-time students earning their degrees in just under two years (approximately 20 months).
While specific timeframes for completion vary depending on enrollment status and individual circumstances, most online master’s in library science programs require 30-40 credits. This means you can complete your studies in only a few years thanks to the convenience and accelerated pacing of online delivery.
Can I earn a master’s in library science 100% online or will I need to visit campus?
You can earn your master’s in library science entirely online. The programs in this guide all have 100% online coursework and most content is administered asynchronously, which means you can interact with material and complete assignments at your convenience.
Some schools occasionally extend opportunities for hybrid or in-person learning, but those are optional. You may also need to attend a face-to-face orientation session at the beginning of the program, after which you pivot to a fully online experience.
Top-Tier Online Library Science Master’s Programs
Emporia State University
Best for: advancement-focused students
East Central University
Best for: school library media specialists
Northeastern State University
Best for: school library media specialists
East Texas A&M University
Best for: school library media specialists
Jacksonville State University
Best for: school library media specialists
Georgia College & State University
Best for: school library media specialists
Pennsylvania Western University
Best for: school library media specialists
Western Kentucky University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Georgia Southern University
Best for: school library media specialists
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Best for: school library media specialists
