Best Master's in Library & Information Science Programs Online 2027

Tallahassee, FL · $11,000/yr

Best for: Working professionals who cannot pause careers

Florida State University's online Master of Science in Information gives students two distinct library science tracks: one spanning public, academic, and special libraries and another focused on school libraries. Coursework stresses information organization, management, and service, with schedules built for working professionals. ALA accreditation and multiple yearly deadlines make it a practical option for students who want flexible entry and broad career coverage.

Seattle, WA · ~$19,000/yr (est.)

Best for: Law graduates adding legal information expertise

The University of Washington approaches library and information science from a user-centered, ethically grounded perspective inside a major research university. Its hybrid MLIS is built for students who want both online flexibility and campus connections, while a separate law librarianship path serves students who already hold a JD. Graduates move into public, private, academic, and nonprofit information roles.

College Park, MD · $18,000/yr

Best for: Archives and digital asset management specialization

University of Maryland's ALA-accredited MLIS sits close to Washington, D.C., giving students access to federal, cultural, and academic library networks. The hybrid program combines online coursework with in-person options, and electives span archives, youth services, digital asset management, and information architecture. Admission requires a bachelor's degree and a 3.0 GPA, with flexible scheduling and financial aid available.

New Brunswick, NJ · $23,000/yr

Rutgers University's fully online Master of Information with a Library and Information Science concentration suits mid-career professionals and career changers. The 36-credit structure adds three zero-credit professional development courses and combines core library topics with electives from across the university. Collection management, information literacy, digital reference, and community engagement anchor the curriculum.

Tampa, FL · $10,000/yr

The University of South Florida's online MA in Library and Information Science is an ALA-accredited degree grounded in theory and professional practice. Six core courses anchor the 39-credit curriculum, while electives let students customize toward school librarian certification and other goals. Academic standards are explicit, with grade expectations that keep students on track for service-focused library careers.

Madison, WI · ~$12,000/yr (est.)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has offered ALA-accredited library education for generations, and today it supports campus, hybrid, and fully online paths through the same rigorous MA in Library and Information Studies. All routes share a 36-credit foundation, a required practicum, and an emphasis on social justice and community engagement. Specializations cover digital librarianship, archives, youth services, public libraries, and college libraries.

San Jose, CA · $10,000/yr

San Jose State University delivers a fully online MLIS through its information school, with no on-campus coursework required. The 43-unit curriculum is asynchronous and technology-focused, with personalized career pathways that include digital archivist, knowledge manager, and metadata specialist roles. Fall and spring admission points add flexibility for working adults.

Columbia, SC · $14,000/yr

The University of South Carolina's online MLIS is built around 36 credit hours, with 18 hours of core study and 18 hours of flexible electives. ALA accreditation, no GRE requirement, and an optional school library certification lane make the degree accessible to newcomers and experienced educators alike. Graduates typically aim at academic, public, school, and corporate information roles.

Norman, OK · $9,000 – $26,000/yr

The University of Oklahoma houses Oklahoma's only ALA-accredited library science program and offers it through online and hybrid paths. The 36-credit MLIS requires six core courses but lets students shape concentrations in archives, data science, or school librarianship. GRE-free admissions, accelerated bachelor's-to-master's routes, and dual degree options create multiple entry points.

Iowa City, IA · $13,000 – $32,000/yr

The University of Iowa's MA in Library and Information Science centers on school media certification, pairing online courses with campus sessions for current and aspiring school librarians. Coursework covers information literacy, collection development, and youth services while aligning with state licensure expectations. Applicants typically already hold a teaching license.

Baton Rouge, LA · $10,000 – $15,000/yr

Louisiana State University's School of Information Studies is home to Louisiana's only ALA-accredited MLIS, with accreditation history dating to 1931. The fully online program uses a straightforward 36-credit structure: no thesis, no recommendation letters, and a transparent per-credit rate. Students can aim their electives toward academic or public library practice.

Knoxville, TN · ~$16,000/yr (est.)

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has trained information professionals for more than five decades through its School of Information Sciences. The hybrid MSIS combines online and campus learning while spanning traditional librarianship, data analysis, user experience, and digital archives. Practical, mentored coursework prepares graduates for library and adjacent information management careers.

Pittsburgh, PA · $28,000/yr

The University of Pittsburgh offers an online MLIS built around archives and information science, a natural fit for students drawn to special collections, records management, and digital preservation. Coursework stresses information organization, archival practice, and long-term access to historical and digital materials. The ALA-accredited format is designed for working professionals.

Buffalo, NY · $10,000 – $15,000/yr

The University at Buffalo offers two distinct online library science paths: a School Librarianship MS aimed at New York State certification and a broader online MS in Information and Library Science. Both are ALA-accredited and built around flexible, part-time-friendly schedules, with the school librarianship track including field hours and student teaching. New York residents can take advantage of in-state tuition rates.

Tuscaloosa, AL · $12,000/yr

The University of Alabama's online MLIS uses a cohort model with weekly live virtual sessions, giving distance learners a more connected classroom experience than many asynchronous options. The 36-credit curriculum requires a final portfolio and supports focused tracks in archival studies or school library media. A transparent $480 per-credit rate and year-round applications add practical appeal.

Los Angeles, CA · $72,000/yr

The University of Southern California's online Master of Management in Library and Information Science is built for students who want library careers with management weight. The 12-month format mixes live online sessions with structured collaboration, and the curriculum folds leadership strategy into information science fundamentals. It is a faster, more selective option for degree holders heading toward administrative roles.

Boone, NC · $9,000 – $25,000/yr

Appalachian State University offers an online Master of Library Science with clear appeal for North Carolina students, including a low in-state rate and a practical two-year path. The flexible program blends synchronous and asynchronous coursework and is presented as nationally accredited, with concentration options that let students shape the degree. It is a solid public-university option for school and local library settings.

Tucson, AZ · ~$15,000/yr (est.)

The University of Arizona's online Master of Arts in Library and Information Science combines ALA accreditation with a wide set of career concentrations: archival studies, academic or public librarianship, and digital information management and curation. The 37-credit structure and $900 per-credit tuition place it in the mid-to-upper tuition range, though the degree is positioned as internationally recognized and flexible for working professionals. Graduates move into librarian, archivist, and data curator roles.

Lexington, KY · $15,000/yr

The University of Kentucky's Master of Science in Library Science is delivered in a hybrid format with asynchronous online coursework and on-campus possibilities. The 36-credit MSLS is the only ALA-accredited program of its kind in Kentucky and branches into academic libraries, archives, data science, health information, public libraries, and youth services through elective clusters. Accelerated and concurrent degree arrangements add flexibility.

Pittsburg, KS · $9,000/yr

Pittsburg State University targets educators in Kansas and beyond with its online Master of Science in Educational Technology and a Library Media Specialist concentration. Coursework emphasizes managing digital resources, integrating technology into schools, and developing information literacy. Graduates are positioned for Kansas library media licensure and school library leadership roles.

Denton, TX · $9,000/yr

Texas Woman's University offers a fully online, ALA-accredited Master of Library Science and several labeled pathways, including certificates in community information and school librarianship. The 36-credit degree includes a practicum and allows individualized study plans that fit Texas educators and career switchers. Small class sizes and a long-established library school add to the program's appeal.

Detroit, MI · $18,000/yr

Wayne State University's MLIS is a long-established, ALA-accredited program with a pragmatic 36-credit structure: 18 hours of core study plus 18 hours in career pathways. Students can pursue archives, children's services, outreach, data analytics, digital content management, health information, school library media, and technical services. The degree is completable entirely online.

Cedar Falls, IA · $12,000 – $23,000/yr

The University of Northern Iowa's online School Library Studies MA is a 30-credit, two-year program for licensed teachers moving into school librarianship. The curriculum is delivered through Zoom and Blackboard and covers library resources, educational technology, literacy, and leadership, with a local school library practicum. Graduates are positioned for Iowa's teacher librarian endorsement.

Greensboro, NC · $9,000/yr

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro delivers a 100 percent online MLIS with synchronous classes, so distance learners still meet each week in real time. It is ALA-accredited and approved for North Carolina school library licensure, with optional licensure in school library and instructional technology. The curriculum covers archival management, information architecture, and web management while placing students in local practicums.

Kingston, RI · $18,000/yr

The University of Rhode Island offers three online MLIS concentrations within one degree: digital media, information equity and critical librarianship, and school library media. Each track combines hands-on projects with flexible admissions and no-GRE entry. Digital media suits technology-leaning librarians, school library media suits K-12 educators, and the equity concentration centers inclusive, social justice-focused practice.