Idaho has no in-state ALA-accredited MLIS, so residents must enroll in an online program from another state.
ALA accreditation is the single non-negotiable filter for librarian jobs in Idaho's public, academic, and school libraries.
Idaho school librarians also need the state's Teacher Librarian K-12 Endorsement, including Praxis and a teaching license.
Flat per-credit online tuition at out-of-state programs often makes them affordable for Boise, Pocatello, and Coeur d'Alene students.
Idaho does not host an in-state ALA-accredited MLIS, so if you live in Boise, Coeur d'Alene, Pocatello, or anywhere in between, your path runs through an online program offered by an out-of-state university. The good news: those degrees are fully accepted by Idaho public libraries, academic libraries, and the State Department of Education for school librarian licensure.
This guide ranks the best online MLIS programs 2026 for Idaho students, compares the cheapest options, walks through the Idaho Teacher Librarian endorsement, and lays out salary and job outlook data so you can decide where to apply with confidence.
Best Online MLIS Programs for Idaho Students in 2027
These ranked online MLIS programs are accessible to students living in Idaho, even though no ALA-accredited library science master's is based in the state. We ranked them using a composite that weighs online delivery options alongside institutional quality, so the order reflects overall program strength rather than cost alone. Keep in mind that the graduation rates shown are institution-wide, not specific to the MLIS program. Program-level earnings are not yet available for these degrees.
How this list was builtDetails
What went into the score: Online delivery flexibility, Institution graduation rates, Program concentrations offered, Net price for students
NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
Internal program database
Florida State University
#1
Tallahassee, FL · $11,000/yr
Best for: Aspiring school librarians wanting flexible online study
Florida State University delivers a Master of Science in Information with two online concentrations that matter for Idaho students: Public, Academic, and Special Libraries and School Libraries. Coursework is designed for working professionals, with flexible scheduling and multiple admission deadlines throughout the year. The school library track is a natural fit for anyone pursuing K-12 librarian roles.
Online program format
Concentration in public, academic, and special libraries
Best for: Archives and digital asset management career changers
The University of Maryland's Master of Library and Information Science is a nationally recognized program with hybrid coursework that lets Idaho students study remotely while accessing a Washington, D.C. network. The curriculum emphasizes digital asset management, information architecture, and ethical information practice, with electives in archives, diversity, and youth services. It is especially strong for future archivists and digital library leaders.
ALA-accredited, nationally ranked program
Hybrid online and in-person learning options
Electives in archives, diversity, and youth services
Digital asset management and information architecture focus
Extensive career services and networking opportunities
Best for: Future law librarians needing hybrid flexibility
The University of Washington's MLIS prepares students to manage, analyze, and transform information across public, private, and nonprofit settings. The program emphasizes user-centered and ethical information practice, and it offers a specialized law librarian pathway for students who already hold a JD. It is a good match for Idaho students who want a respected degree with career variety.
The University of South Florida's online Master of Arts in Library and Information Science is an ALA-accredited program built around six core courses and elective customization. The fully asynchronous format suits distance learners, and the school librarian specialization path is directly relevant to Idaho's K-12 school library jobs. It is one of the more affordable online options in this group.
Rutgers offers a Master of Information with a Library and Information Science concentration that blends collection management, information literacy, and digital reference. The 36-credit online program includes a mandatory technology course and an optional internship, making it practical for career changers. It is designed for professionals seeking leadership roles in libraries and information services.
Online program format
36 credit hours plus three zero-credit courses
Library and Information Science concentration
Mandatory technology course
Optional internship recommended
Prepares for leadership roles in information services
The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies combines a strong theoretical base with a required 120-hour practicum. Students can pursue specializations in archives, digital librarianship, youth services, and school library media, and the program emphasizes social justice and community engagement. The dedicated online MA option requires no GRE and admits once per year in the fall.
ALA-accredited since 1924
36 credit minimum
Required 120-hour practicum
School library media license option
Archives and digital librarianship specializations
Double degree options with law and music
Emphasis on social justice and community engagement
San Jose State University's fully online MLIS is built for flexibility, with 43 units and no campus visits required. Students follow personalized career pathways in areas like digital archives, knowledge management, and metadata, and they can start in fall or spring. The asynchronous format makes it a strong option for busy Idaho students.
Fully online and asynchronous
43 units to complete
No on-campus requirements
Fall and spring admission
Personalized career pathways
Technology-focused courses
Prepares for digital archivist and knowledge manager roles
If you have searched for a Master of Library Science degree at Boise State, the University of Idaho, or Idaho State University and come up empty, you are not missing something. Idaho simply does not have an in-state, ALA-accredited MLIS program. None of the state's public universities offer the degree, and no private Idaho institution fills the gap either.
That sounds like a problem. It isn't.
Idaho Employers Accept Online MLIS Degrees
Idaho libraries, from the Boise Public Library system to rural community branches to academic libraries at BSU and U of I, hire candidates with ALA accredited MLIS programs regardless of where the degree was earned. The same is true for the Idaho State Department of Education's school librarian certification: the standard is ALA accreditation, not geography. An online MLIS from San Jose State, the University of Washington, or the University of North Texas counts exactly the same as a hypothetical degree from a hypothetical Idaho program.
Regional Tuition Reciprocity Can Lower Costs
Idaho participates in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) through WICHE, which lets residents of member states pay in-state or reduced tuition at participating graduate programs in other Western states. Coverage varies year to year and by program, so confirm current eligibility directly with the school, but this is worth checking before you assume out-of-state sticker price. Best online MLIS programs 2026 at institutions like the University of Washington and Emporia State have historically offered Idaho-friendly tuition arrangements through regional partnerships or distance cohorts.
This Is Normal in the Mountain West
Low-population Western states, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, and Idaho among them, rarely sustain their own library schools. Online MLIS study is the standard path here, not a workaround or a compromise. You are doing what nearly every Idaho librarian working today did: earning the degree remotely from an accredited program based elsewhere.
Cheapest Online MLIS Options for Idaho Residents
Because Idaho has no in-state MLIS, cost comparisons hinge on how each program prices online tuition. Many ALA-accredited online MLIS programs charge a flat per-credit online rate to all students regardless of state, which can make out-of-state schools surprisingly affordable for Idaho residents. The figures below show institution-wide published graduate tuition and average net price; actual MLIS costs and graduate aid packages often differ from these undergraduate-weighted averages, so verify program-specific rates with each school.
An MLIS is a flexible degree, but most online programs ask you to pick a track or pathway, often by your second semester. Choosing before you apply helps you target programs that actually offer the coursework and practicum placements you need. Here are the four specializations Idaho students most commonly pursue, and where they lead in-state.
School Library Media
This track prepares you to work as a school librarian or library media specialist in K-12 settings. In Idaho, that often means roles in larger districts like Boise, West Ada, Coeur d'Alene, and Idaho Falls, where dedicated library staff are still budgeted. Important note: working as a school librarian in an Idaho public school requires a state endorsement on top of your online MLIS school librarianship degree, which means extra coursework in education, child development, and supervised practicum hours. We cover the endorsement steps in the next section.
Academic Librarianship
Academic librarians work at colleges and universities supporting research, instruction, and collections. In Idaho, the main employers are the University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University, and Lewis-Clark State College, with smaller roles at community colleges like CWI and CSI. This track typically emphasizes information literacy instruction, scholarly communication, and subject liaison work. A second master's in a subject area can help for tenure-track positions at U of I or BSU.
Public Library Services
Public library tracks focus on community programming, reference, youth services, and management. Idaho's public library system is decentralized, with opportunities at the Boise Public Library, Ada Community Library, the Community Library Network in north Idaho, and dozens of smaller branches. An online master's in public librarianship usually covers readers' advisory, outreach, and library administration, which matters because rural Idaho branches often expect librarians to wear several hats.
Archives and Special Collections
If you are drawn to historical records, manuscripts, and digital preservation, an archives track opens doors at the Idaho State Historical Society, university special collections, tribal archives, and museum libraries. This is the most competitive of the four pathways in Idaho simply because there are fewer positions, so practicum experience and digital skills (metadata, digitization) matter a lot. Students interested in this area often look at adjacent tracks in online MLIS records management as well.
Pick your track early. It shapes your electives, your practicum, and ultimately your first job.
How to Become a Librarian in Idaho With an Online MLIS
School librarians in Idaho need more than a master's degree: the State Department of Education requires the Teacher Librarian (K-12) Endorsement, which adds coursework, a Praxis exam, and a valid teaching license on top of the MLIS. Academic and public librarians skip the endorsement and licensure steps, so for them the pathway ends at the MLIS plus a practicum.
Librarian Salaries and Job Outlook in Idaho
Idaho librarian salaries sit below the national average, but the cost of living in much of the state offsets some of that gap. Here is what the wage and employment data show, and where the jobs actually are.
Idaho Wages vs. the National Picture
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median annual wage of about $64,370 for librarians and media collections specialists, with the middle of the field earning between roughly $38,690 (10th percentile) and $101,970 (90th percentile) nationally.1 Idaho pays less than that midpoint, though the gap narrows once you account for regional differences in library science salary data.
According to Idaho Department of Labor figures for 2024, the median annual wage in Southwestern Idaho, which includes the Boise City metro area, is approximately $46,630, with the 75th percentile around $52,170.2 In South Central Idaho, the median runs slightly higher at about $49,160, while the 25th percentile sits near $31,130.3 Boise City metro specifically tracks with the Southwestern regional median at roughly $46,630.
In plain terms: a new MLIS graduate taking a public library job in Idaho should expect a starting salary in the $35,000 to $45,000 range, with experienced librarians, branch managers, and academic librarians earning into the low $50,000s and beyond.
Where the Jobs Are
Idaho is a small library labor market. Southwestern Idaho, anchored by Boise, Meridian, and Nampa, accounts for the largest concentration of library employment in the state, with roughly 220 librarian positions reported in 2024. South Central Idaho, including Twin Falls, employs about 70 librarians. The remaining positions are spread across the Panhandle, eastern Idaho, and rural districts, often in smaller public libraries and K-12 schools.
If you want maximum job choice without relocating frequently, the Treasure Valley is the practical hub. Outside Boise, openings are real but less frequent, and turnover in small libraries can be slow. For a broader view of careers in library science, think beyond traditional public library roles: academic, special, and corporate libraries all hire MLIS graduates.
National Outlook
The BLS projects employment for librarians and media collections specialists to grow about 2 percent over the 2023 to 2033 decade, slower than average but stable. Even so, roughly 13,500 openings are expected nationally each year, mostly from retirements and workforce churn rather than new positions.4 For Idaho specifically, that means steady but modest hiring, especially as long-tenured librarians retire from school and public library systems.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Which library setting do I actually want to work in: K-12 schools, public libraries, or academic and research institutions? This choice should drive whether you prioritize school librarian certification, youth services, or academic specializations.
Am I realistically prepared to complete 36 to 42 credits over two to three years of online coursework while balancing work or family commitments?
Have I budgeted not just for tuition, but also for the in-person practicum or internship most ALA-accredited programs require?
Frequently Asked Questions About Online MLIS Programs for Idaho Students
Idaho students often have the same handful of questions when weighing online MLIS options. Here are clear answers based on current admissions practices at the most popular ALA-accredited programs serving the state.
Which online MLIS programs waive the GRE for 2026?
Several major ALA-accredited online programs have moved to permanent GRE-optional or GRE-not-required policies, including the University of Washington iSchool, San Jose State University, the University of Arizona, the University of Alabama, Emporia State University, and the University of North Texas. That said, waiver policies can change from one admission cycle to the next, and some programs reserve the right to request scores from applicants with lower GPAs. Always confirm the current requirement on the program's official admissions page before you apply for fall 2026 entry.
What GPA do you need for MLIS admission?
Most ALA-accredited online MLIS programs publish a minimum undergraduate GPA somewhere between 2.75 and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, with 3.0 being the most common floor. Competitive admission, particularly at programs that publish acceptance averages, often skews higher, closer to 3.3 or above. If your GPA is below the stated minimum, many schools will still consider your application with supporting materials such as a strong statement of purpose, professional references, or relevant work experience. Check each program's website for the exact threshold and any conditional admission pathways.
Are there ALA-accredited MLIS programs based in Idaho?
No. Idaho does not currently host an ALA-accredited MLIS program at any in-state university. Idaho residents pursue the degree online through out-of-state institutions. The good news is that ALA accreditation is portable, so a degree earned online from an accredited program is treated the same by Idaho employers as one earned in person elsewhere.
How much do librarians make in Idaho?
For current, verified salary figures, the most reliable source is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics page for librarians and media collections specialists, which publishes Idaho-specific median and percentile wages. The Idaho Commerce Department and the Idaho Library Association also publish workforce updates that can help you benchmark pay by setting (public, academic, school, or special libraries).
Is an MLS or MLIS degree better?
Functionally, they are the same credential. Schools use Master of Library Science (MLS), Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), or Master of Information (MI/MSI) interchangeably. What matters for hiring, especially for public and academic library positions in Idaho, is that the program is ALA-accredited at the time you graduate. The specific name on the diploma rarely affects job prospects.
How can I track 2026-specific admissions or accreditation changes?
Monitor the American Library Association's Office for Accreditation news feed for status updates on any program you are considering, and subscribe to each school's admissions newsletter or news page, where deadline shifts and policy changes are typically announced first. The Idaho Library Association is also a useful local resource for guidance on which programs Idaho employers know well.
