Best Online Master’s in Library Science Degrees of 2025

You may be considering a career as a librarian because you love reading, but this job is about more than just books.

Beyond housing books and other written materials, libraries are community centers offering free classes, internet access, job search assistance, and other resources that support people’s daily lives and help broaden their perspectives.

With an online master’s in library science, you can develop the research and organizational skills needed to succeed as a librarian while helping communities access informations and navigate an ever-changing world.

Read on for our list of the best online master’s in library science programs that can help you take the next step in your career.

You should get your master’s in library science if you want to:

According to BestColleges’ 2024 survey of online students and graduates:

When considering which master of library science online program to enroll in, consider its price, length, application requirement, and accreditation status.

You should also worth checking whether financial aid is available, as it can significantly reduce the cost of your degree.

Keep reading for a closer look at these factors and how they can help you choose the right program for you.

The median yearly cost for an online library science master’s degree was about $7,305 in 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This price tag includes tuition and additional fees. However, your net price could be lower if you qualify scholarships or grants.

With this in mind, make sure to research financial options carefully — 29% of the online students and program graduates we surveyed say they wished they had done more research about cost and financial aid before enrolling in a program. What’s more, 31% say they wished they’d compared more programs.

Most master of library science programs require 30-40 credits, which can take you up to two years to complete. However, you can graduate in 1-1.5 years if you enroll in an accelerated program. These programs let you finish sooner by condensing material into shorter terms and allowing you to take more classes at once.

On the other hand, if you want to keep working while studying, you should consider enrolling in a part-time program. These can take longer to complete but offer more flexibility by offering a lighter course load and scheduling options that can better fit around your commitments.

Library science graduate programs typically require a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 for admission.

Many programs don’t require you to submit test scores, but some might ask for GRE scores. If the one your applying to does, make sure to check the minimum or recommended scores, since they can vary widely.

Other common application requirements include:

Application fees can range from $65-$90 or more, depending on the school. Fortunately, many programs offer fee waivers based on financial need, so contact the school’s financial aid office to learn more your options.

Programmatic accreditation ensures the educational quality of specific programs within a college or university. It signal that a program meets industry and educational standards that make it trustworthy and valuable in its field.

When comparing programs, only consider accredited ones to make sure your degree will pay off. For example, many employers only hire candidates who graduate from accredited programs.

The American Library Association (ALA) is one of the most prevalent and sought-after accrediting bodies for library science programs.

Cindy Hohl, president of ALA, told BestColleges that ALA accreditation demonstrates a program has undergone a self-evaluation process, been reviewed by its peers, and has met ALA’s standards.

Be sure to explore ALA’s database of accredited programs.

With a master’s in library science, you can pursue a career as a librarian, archivist, curator, teacher, research scientist, or library media specialist.

These roles often earn and above-average pay compared to other occupations. For example, librarians earned an average of $64,320 per year in 2024, according to the BLS. On the other hand, the median annual wage for all workers was $49,500.

An online master’s in library science degree can improve your career prospects for library and information careers while offering the flexibility to work while learning and being cheaper than an in-person master’s program.

Our research shows that the vast majority of online master’s program graduates found value in their online studies and would recommend it to others.

Additionally, having a master’s degree can qualify you to earn a higher pay. NACE found that people with a master’s degree have a higher mean starting salary compared to those with just a bachelor’s or associate degree.

NACE also reports that 67% of 2023 graduates with a master’s in library science are employed full time. Eighty-six percent are employed overall. This figure includes full-time, part-time, temporary, freelance, or contract work.

If you want to pursue a career in research or as a professor, you may need to pursue an education beyond a master’s degree.

Academic and advanced research positions usually require a doctoral degree. A doctorate in library science can make you eligible for roles like academic library director and college professor or in adjacent fields like information and data.

If you don’t want to broaden your skillset without pursuing a doctorate, you may consider getting a certificate. With a certificate, you could specialize in niche areas like digital curation, digital libraries, law libraries, or health informatics.