Wyoming does not host an ALA-accredited Master's in Library and Information Science. For residents who want to become a librarian without leaving the state, an online MLIS from an out-of-state, ALA-accredited program is the realistic path. Every program in our rankings admits Wyoming residents and meets the academic requirements for Wyoming State Library certification.

This guide covers what you actually need to compare: the Best Online MLIS Programs for Wyoming Students in 2026, tuition and net price, popular specializations, and a step-by-step look at How to Become a Librarian in Wyoming, plus salary and job outlook data for the state. For a wider view of ALA-accredited online MLIS programs, see our national rankings.

Best Online MLIS Programs for Wyoming Students in 2026

Because Wyoming does not host its own ALA-accredited MLIS, every program below is an out-of-state, online-friendly degree open to Wyoming residents. The list pulls together schools that combine ALA-accredited online delivery with strong baseline quality signals like graduation rates, program completions, and post-degree outcomes, so you can compare options that genuinely fit a remote learner in Cheyenne, Casper, or anywhere else in the state.

Why Wyoming Students Go Online for the MLIS

Wyoming has no ALA-accredited MLIS program based within state borders. The University of Wyoming offers strong programs in many fields, but library and information science at the master's level is not one of them. For Wyoming residents who want to become professional librarians, that single fact shapes the entire decision: an online program is not a fallback, it is the standard path.

The Accreditation Requirement

The Wyoming State Library, along with most public library systems and academic libraries in the state, expects librarians in professional roles to hold a master's degree accredited by the American Library Association. School library media positions follow Wyoming Department of Education endorsement rules, but academic and public library hiring almost always lists ALA accreditation as a baseline qualification.

An online ALA-accredited MLIS carries the exact same credentialing weight as an on-campus one. Hiring committees, state library agencies, and accrediting reviewers do not distinguish between delivery formats. The diploma and the transcript look identical. For a broader look at how delivery formats compare, see our overview of online MLIS programs nationally.

Nearest In-Person and Hybrid Options

Wyoming students who prefer some face-to-face contact do have regional options within driving distance for occasional residencies or hybrid coursework:

• University of Denver in Colorado, roughly a day's drive from Cheyenne or Laramie
• Emporia State University in Kansas, which has historically run cohort-based programs in neighboring states including a Denver-area cohort
• University of Missouri and University of North Texas, which both serve western students through fully online formats with optional in-person events

For students in Jackson, Rock Springs, or other western Wyoming cities, programs based near Salt Lake City may also be reachable for any rare on-campus requirement. Students weighing nearby states can compare the library science degree in Colorado or look into options for Utah before settling on a format.

Online as the Practical Default

Given the geography, the small population, and the consistent ALA requirement, going online lets Wyoming students keep their current jobs, stay in their communities, and graduate with a credential that travels anywhere in the country.

Online MLIS Tuition and Net Price Comparison

Because Wyoming does not host its own MLIS, students here pay out-of-state graduate tuition at the online programs below. The table pairs published in-state and out-of-state graduate tuition with each school's institution-wide net price, plus typical graduate debt at completion. Use net price as a rough cost-of-attendance signal and out-of-state tuition as the closer estimate of what most Wyoming students will actually be billed.

Popular MLIS Specializations Available Online

The right MLIS is less about which school you pick and more about which specialization fits the work you actually want to do. Wyoming has a small but varied library landscape: K-12 districts in Cheyenne and Casper, the Wyoming State Archives, the University of Wyoming Libraries, county systems like Laramie County Library System and Natrona County, and tribal and museum collections on the Wind River Reservation. Here is how the most common online concentrations map to those settings.

School Librarianship

If you want to work in a Wyoming K-12 district, look for a school librarianship track. Texas Woman's University offers a School Librarianship concentration within its online MLS, and the University at Buffalo runs a fully online MS in School Librarianship. The University of Southern Mississippi includes coursework tied to K-12 licensure. Wyoming requires a separate state library media endorsement through the Professional Teaching Standards Board, so confirm how out-of-state coursework will transfer before enrolling. For a broader look at how to become a librarian, the licensure pathway varies by setting.

Archives and Preservation

For roles at the Wyoming State Archives, the American Heritage Center at UW, or county historical societies, an archives track is the natural fit. The University of Arizona offers an archival studies degree concentration, and Southern Mississippi has an Archives and Special Collections concentration. Both cover digital preservation, appraisal, and metadata standards relevant to Wyoming's mining, ranching, and tribal records.

Academic and Research Libraries

If your goal is the University of Wyoming, a community college library, or a special research collection, consider an academic libraries concentration. Arizona, LSU, and the University of Denver each offer academic-track options covering reference, instruction, and collection development.

Public Librarianship

For county systems like Laramie County or Campbell County, public librarianship tracks at LSU and Arizona emphasize community engagement, programming, and reference services. TWU's Community Information concentration covers similar ground with a rural-services lens.

Data and Digital Information

If you lean technical, Arizona offers a Digital Information Management and Curation concentration, and Denver has a Research Data Management track. These prepare graduates for careers in library science like data librarian roles, digital humanities work, or information management positions outside traditional libraries, useful in a state where remote and hybrid information jobs are growing.

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How to Become a Librarian in Wyoming: Step-by-Step

Wyoming has two distinct librarian career tracks, and they require different credentials. Public and academic library staff work under the Wyoming State Library certification system, while K-12 school librarians need a teaching license with a library media endorsement from the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB).¹ Understanding which path you want shapes every step that follows.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Start with a four-year undergraduate degree. For the public library track, any major works, though English, history, education, or information studies are common. For the school library track, your bachelor's should be in a teaching-related program with a GPA of C or higher, and you'll need supervised teaching experience plus documented knowledge of the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions.¹

Step 2: Complete an ALA-Accredited MLIS

Wyoming has no in-state ALA-accredited MLIS programs, so every prospective librarian here completes the degree online through an out-of-state university. ALA accreditation is the standard credential recognized by the Wyoming State Library and by employers across the country, and online MLIS degrees from accredited programs are treated identically to on-campus versions. If you're still mapping out the broader path, our guide to library science degree requirements walks through the general timeline.

Step 3a: Wyoming State Library Certification (Public Libraries)

If you want to work in a public or county library, apply for certification through the Wyoming State Library at library.wyo.gov. Certification is tiered based on education and experience, and an ALA-accredited MLIS qualifies you for the highest professional level. Out-of-state MLIS holders are recognized without needing to repeat coursework. Certification must be renewed periodically through continuing education hours, so plan to attend workshops, webinars, or conference sessions to stay current.

Step 3b: PTSB School Library Media Endorsement (K-12)

For school librarian roles, you apply through PTSB ([email protected], 307-777-7291). Initial licensure costs $150 in-state or $200 for out-of-state applicants and is valid for 5 years. Renewal requires 5 credits of continuing education.¹ You must also pass two exams:

• Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: $156, 2 hours, passing score 157-160 depending on grade band (K-6, 5-9, or 7-12)¹
• Library Media Specialist Test: $130, 2 hours, passing score 162¹

For a deeper look at credentialing rules across states, see our overview of school librarian licensure.

Step 4: Apply for Positions

With credentials in hand, watch postings from the Wyoming State Library, county systems, university libraries, and school districts. The two credential systems are not interchangeable: a PTSB endorsement does not authorize public library leadership roles, and State Library certification does not let you work as a K-12 school librarian.

Wyoming Librarian Salary and Job Outlook

Wyoming is a small library labor market, but it punches above its weight in concentration. Statewide, librarians and media collections specialists hold roughly 430 jobs, with a location quotient of 1.77 (2023), meaning librarian jobs are about 77 percent more concentrated here than the national average relative to total employment.¹ That density reflects Wyoming's commitment to public library access across a sparsely populated state.

Wages in Wyoming vs. the Nation

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2023), Wyoming librarians earn a mean annual wage of about $49,420, or roughly $23.76 per hour.¹ That sits noticeably below the national mean of $68,570 and the national median of $64,370. BLS does not publish a full set of percentile wages (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th) for Wyoming librarians at the state level in the most recent release, and metro-level wage detail for Cheyenne and Casper is also limited or suppressed. For context, nationally the 10th percentile earns about $38,690 and the 90th percentile earns about $101,970, so Wyoming wages tend to cluster toward the lower and middle of that national range. For broader context, our library science salary guide compares figures across all 50 states.

Job Outlook Through 2026

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services projects total librarian employment in the state at about 97 in its 2024 to 2026 projections cycle, a figure that appears to reflect a narrower occupational definition than the broader BLS count.² Nationally, BLS projects 2 percent growth for librarians from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 13,500 annual openings driven mostly by retirements and turnover rather than new positions.³ Wyoming students should plan for a steady but competitive market.

Where Wyoming Librarians Work

The largest employers across the state include:

• The Wyoming State Library in Cheyenne
• The University of Wyoming Libraries in Laramie
• Community college libraries (such as Casper College, Sheridan College, and Western Wyoming Community College)
• County library systems serving Natrona, Laramie, Campbell, Sweetwater, and other counties
• K to 12 school districts employing school librarians and media specialists

Frequently Asked Questions

Wyoming students considering a Master's in Library and Information Science often have the same handful of practical questions about online study, accreditation, and state certification. The answers below cover the essentials before you compare programs.

Can you get a Master's degree in library science online?

Yes. Dozens of universities now offer the MLIS fully online, and most are accredited by the American Library Association. Online programs typically deliver coursework through a learning management system, with a mix of asynchronous lectures, live discussions, and virtual group projects. Practicum or capstone hours can usually be completed at a library near you, which works well for Wyoming residents.

Is MLS or MLIS better?

Neither is inherently better. MLS (Master of Library Science) and MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) are largely the same credential under different names. What matters most to employers and to state certification boards is that the degree is ALA-accredited. The MLIS title is more common today because it signals coursework in digital tools, data, and information systems alongside traditional library skills.

How do you become a librarian in Wyoming?

Earn a bachelor's degree, then complete an ALA-accredited MLIS. For public library work, the Wyoming State Library issues professional librarian certification at several levels based on education and experience. School librarians need a Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board endorsement in library media. Academic and special libraries set their own requirements but almost always expect an ALA-accredited master's degree.

Are there any ALA-accredited MLIS programs in Wyoming?

No. Wyoming does not currently host an ALA-accredited MLIS program at any in-state university. That is the main reason Wyoming students pursue the degree online, often through programs at public universities in nearby states. The Wyoming State Library accepts ALA-accredited online degrees on equal footing with on-campus ones for certification purposes.

How long does it take to complete an online MLIS?

Most online MLIS programs require 36 to 42 credit hours. Full-time students generally finish in about two years, while part-time students working in libraries often take three to four years. A few programs offer accelerated tracks that can be completed in roughly 12 to 18 months. Practicum hours and a capstone project may extend the timeline slightly.