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Compare ALA-accredited MLIS degrees in Illinois by cost, format, specializations, and career outcomes
Illinois punches above its weight in library science. The state hosts a small but strong roster of ALA-accredited online MLIS programs, anchored by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign iSchool, Dominican University, and Chicago State University.
This guide ranks the online MLIS programs and breaks down what actually drives your decision: tuition, admission requirements (including GRE policies), specializations, and Illinois librarian salaries by region.
Keep in mind that "online" looks different at each school. Formats range from fully asynchronous coursework at the UIUC iSchool to hybrid cohorts that mix live sessions with flexible self-paced work, so match the delivery model to your schedule before you compare price tags.
Illinois offers a small but strong slate of online-eligible MLIS programs, anchored by two ALA-accredited options that serve very different student profiles. The list below leads with online delivery flexibility and pairs that with baseline institutional quality signals like graduation rate, net price, and post-graduation outcomes. Note that the graduation rates referenced reflect the institution as a whole, not the MLIS program specifically, since program-level completion data is not publicly reported.
We built this list to surface Illinois MLIS programs that genuinely support online or hybrid learners while still holding up on broader institutional quality measures. Programs earned a boost for online delivery and were then evaluated against affordability, student support, and post-graduation outcomes drawn from federal data and our own program research.
Chicago, IL · $12,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Public library careers serving urban communities
Chicago State University delivers one of the most affordable ALA-accredited MLIS pathways in Illinois, with a strong emphasis on serving urban and underrepresented communities. The program is built for working professionals through fully online concentrations in Public Library, Archives and Records Management, and School Library Information Specialist, plus a hybrid track with broader specialization choices. Multiple start dates each year and a no-entrance-exam admissions policy lower the barrier to entry, though the institution-wide graduation rate of 15.5% reflects the broader student body, not MLIS cohorts specifically.
River Forest, IL · $12,000/yr
Best for: Working adults seeking flexible pacing options
Dominican University in River Forest runs an ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Science with a 90-plus year tradition and membership in the iSchools consortium. The 36-credit program offers flexible online and hybrid formats, completion timelines from one to six years, and concentrations in high-demand areas like Digital Libraries and Archives and Cultural Heritage. Chicagoland location supports strong internship and practicum placements, and the institution posts a 55.3% graduation rate alongside median graduate earnings of $60,327 ten years after entry.
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Illinois has streamlined the path into library science. All three ALA-accredited MLIS programs in the state, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Dominican University, and Chicago State University, currently admit students without GRE scores.123 If you have been putting off applying because of standardized testing, that obstacle is gone for 2026.
None of the three Illinois MLIS programs require the GRE for 2026 admission. UIUC offers a GRE waiver, Dominican does not require GRE scores for its MLIS, and Chicago State also accepts applications without test scores. This aligns with a broader national trend among No-GRE Master's in Library Science Programs.
The American Library Association generally recommends a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 for ALA-accredited programs.4 UIUC sets a published floor of 2.75, which is more flexible than many peer programs, though competitive applicants typically present higher averages.1 Dominican and Chicago State expect applicants to demonstrate solid undergraduate performance, and applicants below a 3.0 should plan to address their academic record directly in the personal statement.
Expect to submit a similar package at all three schools, with small variations:
While formal work or volunteer experience in a library is rarely required, applicants who can point to relevant experience (paid, volunteer, or adjacent like tutoring, archives, bookstore, or tech support) tend to write stronger statements of purpose.
UIUC's iSchool admits students for fall, spring, and summer terms, with priority deadlines several months ahead of each start. The MSLIS is a 40-credit program that most students complete in 18 to 24 months across on-campus and online formats.1 Dominican and Chicago State also operate on rolling or term-based admissions for their online tracks, which gives working applicants flexibility to start when ready rather than waiting for an annual cohort.
Applicants pursuing the K-12 school librarian licensure track should expect additional requirements layered on top of the standard MLIS application, including background checks, education coursework prerequisites, and state-mandated testing tied to Illinois licensure rules. Confirm these details with the program before applying.
Illinois offers several pathways to an ALA-accredited MLIS degree, and the right fit depends on how quickly you want to finish, whether you can attend live class sessions, and how many credits you can manage each semester. Most programs in the state require between 36 and 40 credit hours, with completion times ranging from 18 months on an accelerated track to five years for part-time students balancing work and family. If speed is your top priority, our guide to the fastest library science degree options nationally is a useful benchmark.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign iSchool MSLIS requires 40 credit hours, including IS 505 (4 credits) and IS 510 (2-4 credits) as core requirements.1 Full-time students typically finish in 24 months, but UIUC also offers an accelerated 18-month full-time pathway for students who can take heavier course loads.2 Part-time students generally complete the program in 36 to 48 months, and the iSchool allows up to five years from matriculation to finish all coursework.2 The Fall 2026 application deadline is December 1, 2025.3
Dominican University and Chicago State University programs fall in a similar 36 to 39 credit-hour range, with most students completing coursework in two to three years depending on pace.
Format is the biggest practical difference between Illinois programs. UIUC's LEEP delivery is synchronous online, meaning students attend scheduled live class sessions over video each week, which builds cohort connections but requires fixed availability.4 Dominican's online MLIS uses a hybrid cohort model that blends synchronous meetings with asynchronous coursework, while Chicago State leans more heavily on flexible asynchronous delivery for students who cannot commit to weekly live sessions.
All three Illinois programs accommodate working librarians, paraprofessional library staff, and K-12 teachers pursuing school librarian licensure. Part-time students at UIUC commonly take one or two courses per semester, stretching the 40-credit program across three to four years. Joint degree options at UIUC, including the MSLIS/MA in History and the JD/MSLIS, add flexibility for students with broader career goals.3
When comparing programs, weigh your weekly schedule against the synchronous requirements, confirm the minimum GPA threshold (UIUC requires a 2.75), and map out a realistic credit load before applying.3 The fastest program on paper is rarely the right one if the format does not match your life.
Choosing an MLIS specialization is really a decision about where you want to work after graduation. A children's librarian at a suburban public branch, a metadata specialist at a research university, and a high school media coordinator all hold the same degree, but their coursework, practicums, and electives can look very different. Illinois schools have developed distinct identities, so matching your career goal to the right program matters.
Start by picturing the type of library you want to work in, then trace it back to a concentration:
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign iSchool leans heavily technical and research-oriented. Its concentrations in data and asset management, knowledge management, and research data work reflect a faculty deeply tied to information science. UIUC is the natural fit if you want Academic Librarianship, data curation, or digital humanities work.
Dominican University in River Forest has built its reputation around public and youth services. Its Butler Center for Children's Literature and strong public library partnerships across the Chicago suburbs make it a go-to choice for students aiming at children's and young adult services roles.
Chicago State University focuses squarely on the school librarian pipeline, with coursework aligned to Illinois licensure requirements for K-12 educators who want to add a library media endorsement.
Before submitting an application, look at each program's concentration list and required courses, not just its overall reputation. A program that excels in archives may offer only one elective in youth services, and vice versa. For broader guidance on weighing concentrations against career goals, our guide on how to choose the best Master's in Library Science program walks through the trade-offs. Pick the school whose strengths match the job you actually want.
Illinois employs roughly 4,160 librarians (BLS SOC 25-4022, 2024), making it one of the larger librarian workforces in the Midwest.1 Where you work inside the state matters: wages, job density, and sector mix shift noticeably between the Chicago metro and downstate regions.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro concentrates the bulk of librarian jobs (about 3,300 positions) and pays a mean annual wage of $72,650.1 Downstate metros trail that figure but still offer competitive pay relative to the national median of $64,370 for librarians (2023):2
The Chicago premium reflects higher cost of living, larger academic and special library employers, and dense public library systems. Champaign-Urbana benefits from the University of Illinois ecosystem, which props up wages despite the smaller job count. Springfield, anchored by state government and public libraries, sits below the U.S. median.
College Scorecard earnings data (institution-wide, not MLIS-specific) gives a rough floor for graduate outcomes at Illinois MLIS providers. Dominican University reports median earnings of $60,327 ten years after entry, while Chicago State University reports $42,778. These figures blend all degree levels and majors, so MLIS alumni working in Chicago academic or special libraries often outperform the institutional median, while early-career public library hires downstate may track closer to it. For broader context, see library science salaries by state.
Nationally, BLS projects 2% job growth for librarians from 2024 to 2034, with about 13,500 annual openings driven largely by replacement needs.3 Illinois MLIS graduates typically distribute across four sectors:
Return on investment depends heavily on placement. Public Librarianship roles in smaller downstate districts can sit closer to the Springfield figure, while academic libraries at research universities and special libraries in legal, medical, or corporate settings typically pay above the Chicago metro mean, sometimes well into the $80,000s for experienced catalogers, systems librarians, or subject specialists. Factor sector targeting into your program choice and concentration.
Below are quick answers to the questions prospective students most often ask about earning an online MLIS in Illinois. Use these as a starting point, then verify current details directly with each program before applying.
