The following programs are the most affordable library science master programs, each accredited by the American Library Association. Any master of library and information science (MLIS) degree from an ALA-accredited program is reputable, so might as well save some money on the degree. Additionally, many MLIS degree programs on this list are offered online and can be completed remotely. 

The reason ALA accreditation is essential is that ALA requires schools to meet standards that ensure students are prepared for the library career field. It is especially important for those wishing to work in a university library, public library, or other specialized libraries to have a degree from an ALA-accredited school. For a master’s program, to be accredited by ALA, it must meet certain standards and its curriculum must be up-to-date, and it must meet the standards in current technology. 

There are other great options that are not on this list in nearly every state, but for now, here are the most affordable ALA-accredited library science programs in the U.S. Keep reading if you want to know if one is a good fit for you, and what each program has to offer. This article also goes over the application process for each degree program. 

Master of Library and Information Science from Clarion University, Pennsylvania

This online program has two concentrations of study and a school media certificate option. One of the concentrations is local and archival studies. This concentration provides students with the knowledge and skills to work with archival documents and materials in libraries, museums, and historical societies. The program also teaches mastery skills for digitizing materials and managing collections. The program also teaches students to learn various types of information technology and how to use technology and adapt to an ever-changing technological world. 

The other concentration is in reference and user services studies. This program concentration equips students to instruct others on how to find and use research in all types of libraries, including academic, public, and special libraries. Many graduates become reference librarians and work in specialized sources like business sources, law and legal documents, government information, and resources in humanities and social sciences. 

Additionally, the program is offered for general library and information study without a concentration. 

How to apply

To qualify, applicants must have at least a 3.0 from their last 60 credit hours from an accredited degree program and a bachelor’s degree. Then fill out an online application and pay the application fee. Then send in transcripts and a current resume to GradAdmissions@pennwest.edu.

Master of Science in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin

This is a 36-credit hour degree program that offers various courses that allow for a customizable set of courses. There are courses in the following areas of study: informatics, user experience (UX), research and design, health informatics, human-computer interaction, information security, AI and data science, data engineering, information organization, information search and retrieval, preservation, archiving, collections management, librarianship, and information literacy.  For those who have not completed a bachelor’s degree, the iSchool offers a five-year program that combines a bachelor’s and a master’s in information science. They also offer a Ph.D. program in information studies. 

This degree is very versatile and can help earn careers in all areas of librarianship and information. People from very different educational backgrounds come into this program and most students have very different career goals. Students can learn mostly about librarianship and research, but they can also focus more on the digital side of information and become website designers, cataloguers, and graphic design artists. Students will also take a capstone in the area of study they choose. 

How to apply

To qualify for the iSchool admissions, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school and have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale. For fall 2023 GRE test scores are optional, but in the past, they have been required. All applicants must fill out an online application and pay the application fee. Applicants also need to submit transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. 

Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama 

This is the only library science program in the state of Alabama, and is fully online and designed to be flexible for busy and dedicated students. This program uses state-of-the-art technology for online schooling, and each course typically has one virtual night class a week. It is a 36-hour credit course and can be completed in less than two years. Students gain knowledge on the management and organization of information and learn how to run any type of library. They also learn how information plays a role in education, personal life, and work-life for various communities. 

There are nine required course hours each student must take, which include information and media, information and communities, and professional paths. Then students can choose which area of study they prefer and will take 27 elective courses. The two main areas of study are archival studies and school library media. 

How to apply

Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of their bachelor’s degree. Then they can apply online and pay the application fee. Students will need to submit transcripts, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. No GRE test scores are required.  

Master of Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University

This program is 39 credit hours and is completely online. The professors are dedicated to the online format and allow for the online coursework to be flexible for students who have jobs and families. The MLIS degree program is accredited by the American Library Association and meets its standards. The program focuses on providing students with expertise in library administration, knowledge of technology, and information services. 

Within the courses, students will learn how to organize and retrieve information, manage information, provide information services for various communities and age groups, and to learn about different library and information systems. Additionally, the program offers optional tracts and areas of study including cataloging and classification, library and information technology, reference sources and services, library management, youth services, and conservation librarianship or archives. Each student can pick 18 credit hours of electives toward an area of study, or students can pick electives to learn about more than one area of study in information science. 

How to apply

To qualify for the program, applicants must have an undergraduate bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Applicants must also have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale. If you qualify, fill out the online application and pay the application fee. Then, send in your transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a resume, and two MLIS application essays. 

Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University

The MLIS degree program from Wayne State University in Michigan is ALA-accredited and completely online. It is a 39-credit hour program with areas of study in library services, information management, archives, and digital content management. Additionally, they offer a certified school library media program for those wanting to work in public schools in the state of Michigan. Additionally, undergraduate students can apply for the accelerated program and earn their master’s in the fifth year of their undergraduate program. This makes both degrees more affordable. 

Every MLIS student will take core classes on library services, information organization, and analyzing the information needs of a community and how to provide relevant information. The library services route provides a deeper skill set in regard to learning about library users and communities in any type of library setting. The area of information management focuses more on web-based services, data analysis, user experience, data management, and health informatics. 

How to apply

To qualify, applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale from an undergraduate bachelor’s degree program at an accredited university or college. If you do not have a 3.0 for all of your bachelor’s, you may still qualify if you have an average of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours of the program. If you think you may qualify, apply online and pay the application fee. You will also need to send in transcripts, a statement of purpose, and a resume. 

Master of Science in Information and Library Science from the University of Buffalo

This program is typically completed in two years within four semesters. Students must complete 36 credit hours to graduate. The degree is completely online and is student-centered with group activities and opportunities to serve on committees to further learning and networking. Additionally, the curriculum includes special projects and guided courses in real-world experience within the information field and librarianship.

They also offer specialized MSIS programs in music librarianship and law librarianship. Specialized courses in music librarianship include music description and access, and music librarianship. Courses in law librarianship include law librarian administration and government education. They also offer courses in archiving, marking information services, health science librarianship, information policy, and networking technologies. 

How to apply

Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 GPA to qualify for admission and must have a bachelor’s degree by the start of the program. Those who have below a 3.0 may be considered and may be granted a “conditional admission”. Apply online and send in the application fee, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of education and career goals. No GRE test scores are required. 

Master of Library Science from Indiana University Bloomington

The MLS program focuses on building strong skills for working with technology in an evolving information culture while teaching students to preserve and maintain records, documents, and data in many ways, including leading the history of how past generations have preserved information and culture. The main goal is to teach students to provide access to reliable information and to enhance our world’s knowledge in all areas. 

Indiana also offers a program that combines a bachelor’s and master’s in library and information science into five years of study. To qualify for this program you must already be an undergraduate student and have at least a 3.2 GPA. This option is excellent for those who have not completed an undergraduate degree, and it saves a year of education and a year’s worth of tuition costs. Additionally, they offer specialties in data science, digital content, curation, and collections, digital humanities, information architecture, information technology leadership, archives and records management, art librarianship, youth services, music librarianship, and rare books and manuscripts librarianship. 

How to apply

Applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA and an undergraduate degree from an accredited university. To apply, fill out the online application form, pay the application fee, and send in supporting documents. You will need to send in a resume, three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, transcripts, and any relevant published articles, or academic essays and research papers. 

Master of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This program is nationally ranked #1 by QS World Rankings and the health librarianship and the digital program is ranked #1 by the U.S. News Report, and their youth services program is ranked #3 by the U.S. News Report. In each library science program, students are taught to organize, analyze, and retrieve the world’s recorded information with an evidence-based curriculum in a dynamic world of information technology and management. 

There are also plenty of courses to choose from in specialized areas of library and information science. These courses will help students gain the experience they need for a variety of careers including working in a public library, academic library, school library, archives, government  agencies, and other information-centered careers for non-profit organizations, cultural institutions, and other businesses. Some of the most notable course electives include studies in environmental informatics, digital humanities and libraries, youth services, user experience, and human-computer interaction. There’s even a course called Information Professionals in the Makerspace for those wanting to focus on teaching STEM as part of their career. Additionally, students may gain field experience as part of their curriculum. 

How to apply

Accepted students on average have a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale. However, admissions consider letters of recommendation, experience, and any related research papers or essays. To apply, fill out an online application and send in transcripts, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, an updated resume, and pay the application fee.  

Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Washington

The Information School, or the iSchool, at the University of Washington is ranked #2 in the nation by U.S. News Report and the American Library Association has accredited them since 1926. This program is also available online or on campus and can be flexible to fit any schedule. They offer five core areas of study: digital youth, knowledge organization, information services, data science, and user experience (UX). Also, they offer an endorsement in school librarianship and a law librarianship option. 

Each program the iSchool offers teaches students to bring individuals and communities of all walks of life to knowledge and information that is relative to their life. The program achieves this through courses on information behaviors, design methods for librarianship, services and issues for information professionals, information technology, social ethics, and many more. Additionally, a capstone is required for the program to further offer additional skills in library and information scholarship. 

How to apply

To qualify for the MLIS program you need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. If you want to go into law librarianship, you will also need a J.D. from an American Bar Association-approved school. Then fill out the online application and send in the application fee, transcripts, at least two letters of recommendation, program mode preference, personal statement, diversity statement, an essay, a short answer response, and a resume. 

Master of Library Science from Queens College, New York 

The MLIS program at Queens College(CUNY) is the most affordable of the MLIS programs that are accredited by the American Library Association if you are a New York resident, and overall, it is one of the most affordable in the country for non-residents. It is also the only publicly funded ALA program in New York. The program prepares students for careers in academic libraries, public libraries, archives, and other information organizations.  CUNY provides plenty of internship opportunities at the most prestigious institutions including the Center for Jewish History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Brooklin Academy of Music.

CUNY also offers concentrations in archives, public services, youth and children services, library media in public schools, digital resources management, information organization, and special librarianship. All MLIS students will learn the skills they need to meet the information and literacy needs of the metropolitan area of New York and any other area. They focus on serving multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual populations. Specifically, they teach students how to analyze the community and its needs and the community’s relationship with information, and how best to provide information that is most needed in the area. 

How to apply

To qualify for the program you must have a 3.0 GPA from an undergraduate degree or an additional graduate degree. However, GRE scores will be considered if the applicant’s GPA is below 3.0. Otherwise, GRE test scores are not required. Then, fill out the online application and pay the fee and submit any documents the application calls for. Applicants will also be asked to have an interview with someone from the MLIS department. 

MLS Program Research Resources

If you would like to know more about library science and librarianship visit https://www.ala.org/ and other library associations throughout the different states. We hope this article was helpful to you and that you find an MLIS degree that is the right fit for you and for your finances. School can be expensive, but these programs and the scholarship and financial plans they offer will help that financial burden and help you earn your degree.