The Best Colleges for Library Science

University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign

• The Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was ranked number one by U.S. News and World Report. The school offers 10 programs including the Master of Science in Library and Information Science, certificates of advanced study and a doctoral degree. The master's degree program requires 40 hours of graduate-level courses and allows students to pursue specialties, such as design and evaluation of information systems, services for children and young adults or community information systems. The program is also offered online.

  Graduate School of Library and Information Science
  University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
  501 E. Daniel St.
  Champaign, IL 61820-6211
  (217) 333-3280
  lis.Illinois.edu

University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill

• The School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tied with the University of Illinois for the number one spot on the U.S. News and World Report ranking. UNC offers four degree programs including a Master of Science in Information Science, a Master of Science in Library Science and a doctoral program. Both master's degree programs require 48 hours of coursework and provide a solid foundation for library and information science careers. Certificate programs, dual degrees and continuing education courses are also available.

  School of Information and Library Science
  University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill
  CB #3360
  Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3360
  (919) 962-8366
  unc.edu

Syracuse University

• The School of Information Studies at Syracuse University offers a variety of bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and advanced certificate programs in Library and Information Science. The Master of Science in Library Science degree program is available on campus or online and may be taken full- or part-time. Students can specialize in school media or digital libraries. The program requires 36 hours of graduate-level coursework. The school also offers an executive education program.

  School of Information Studies
  Syracuse University
  245 Hinds Hall
  Syracuse, NY 13244
  (315) 443-2911
  syr.edu

University of Washington

• The University of Washington’s Information School offers four degree options as well as certificates and continuing education opportunities in Library Science. The Master of Library and Information Science degree program is offered on campus or online and requires 63 quarter credits. Special programs are also offered for law librarians and teacher librarians.

  Information School
  University of Washington
  Box 352840
  Seattle, WA 98195-2840
  (206) 685-9937
  washington.edu

University of Michigan--Ann Arbor

• The School of Information at the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor rounds out U.S. News and World Report’s top five master's degree programs accredited by the American Library Association. The school offers a doctorate program and master's degrees with specializations in topics such as community informatics, information policy and preservation of information. The Library and Information Services specialization requires 48 credit hours of graduate coursework. Students may also elect to tailor their own specialization within the Master of Science in Information degree program.

  School of Information
  University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
  1085 S. University Ave.
  Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1092
  (734) 763-2285
  si.umich.edu