Library Science and Administration: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 54 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$55,958 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$55,958Median year-4 earnings
$19,132Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$55,958Median reported earnings · year 4
$57,301Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
7thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
180IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
54With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 17 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $32,301
- Federal debt
- $34,536
- Reporting programs
- 3
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,780
- Federal debt
- $25,773
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,958
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 54
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $66,688
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,119
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$52,520National median$55,95875th percentile$58,578
54 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$69,610Observed year-4 earnings$48,769
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus$11,900 price · $74,359 earningsUniversity of Southern California$32,740 price · $70,398 earningsCUNY Queens College$4,195 price · $70,373 earningsPratt Institute-Main$52,659 price · $69,610 earningsLong Island University$33,062 price · $67,680 earningsUniversity of Houston-Clear Lake$15,563 price · $65,861 earningsSt. John's University-New York$29,999 price · $65,858 earningsUniversity of Maryland-College Park$15,678 price · $65,261 earningsSam Houston State University$16,404 price · $64,781 earningsRutgers University-New Brunswick$24,406 price · $64,520 earningsUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus$14,091 price · $63,736 earningsEast Texas A&M University$11,841 price · $62,242 earningsAppalachian State University$16,836 price · $59,631 earningsUniversity of Missouri-Columbia$20,268 price · $58,856 earningsThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville$18,976 price · $58,578 earningsSimmons University$25,265 price · $58,512 earningsUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$14,355 price · $58,237 earningsEast Carolina University$15,739 price · $58,122 earningsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$11,655 price · $57,675 earningsTexas Woman's University$11,963 price · $57,458 earningsUniversity of North Texas$15,649 price · $57,395 earningsDrexel University$38,509 price · $56,671 earningsUniversity at Buffalo$20,995 price · $56,619 earningsUniversity of Denver$36,131 price · $56,359 earningsNorth Carolina Central University$15,359 price · $56,291 earningsUniversity of Rhode Island$21,440 price · $56,115 earningsUniversity of Arizona$16,674 price · $55,970 earningsUniversity of Iowa$22,531 price · $55,946 earningsPennsylvania Western University$18,256 price · $55,619 earningsSyracuse University$38,793 price · $55,160 earningsWayne State University$12,766 price · $54,979 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison$17,354 price · $54,976 earningsDominican University$11,745 price · $54,946 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee$15,014 price · $54,925 earningsEmporia State University$16,261 price · $54,843 earningsSt Catherine University$19,764 price · $54,584 earningsValdosta State University$10,945 price · $53,915 earningsUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa$15,664 price · $53,802 earningsIndiana University-Bloomington$16,264 price · $53,119 earningsUniversity of South Carolina-Columbia$22,811 price · $52,842 earningsThe University of Alabama$22,420 price · $52,520 earningsWestern Kentucky University$10,990 price · $52,390 earningsUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro$10,965 price · $52,258 earningsUniversity of South Florida$9,812 price · $52,161 earningsLouisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College$19,151 price · $50,960 earningsUniversity of Kentucky$18,851 price · $50,534 earningsMiddle Tennessee State University$13,359 price · $50,169 earningsKent State University at Kent$20,787 price · $49,948 earningsUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$30,434 price · $49,625 earningsIndiana University-Indianapolis$11,668 price · $49,513 earningsUniversity of Oklahoma-Norman Campus$15,300 price · $49,361 earningsUniversity of Southern Mississippi$21,708 price · $48,769 earningsUniversity of Central Missouri$14,462 price · $48,021 earningsNortheastern State University$12,710 price · $47,552 earnings
$10,945Annual college-wide average net price$36,131
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
54 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus$74,3592University of Southern California$70,3983CUNY Queens College$70,3734Pratt Institute-Main$69,6105Long Island University$67,6806University of Houston-Clear Lake$65,8617St. John's University-New York$65,8588University of Maryland-College Park$65,2619Sam Houston State University$64,78110Rutgers University-New Brunswick$64,520Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$68,270 median wage133,790 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-4022+2.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$43,660–$103,990 10th–90th percentileManagers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 100.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentileLibrary Science Teachers, Postsecondary$80,340 median wage3,630 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1082+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$57,200–$129,120 10th–90th percentileArchivists$64,550 median wage7,970 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-4011+3.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$39,970–$110,550 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $74,359 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,900 |
| 2 | University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $70,398 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,740 |
| 3 | CUNY Queens CollegeMaster's Degree | Queens, NY | $70,373 | Not available | Baseline needed | $4,195 |
| 4 | Pratt Institute-MainMaster's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $69,610 | Not available | Baseline needed | $52,659 |
| 5 | Long Island UniversityMaster's Degree | Brookville, NY | $67,680 | Not available | Baseline needed | $33,062 |
| 6 | University of Houston-Clear LakeMaster's Degree | Houston, TX | $65,861 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,563 |
| 7 | St. John's University-New YorkMaster's Degree | Queens, NY | $65,858 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,999 |
| 8 | University of Maryland-College ParkMaster's Degree | College Park, MD | $65,261 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,678 |
| 9 | Sam Houston State UniversityMaster's Degree | Huntsville, TX | $64,781 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,404 |
| 10 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickMaster's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $64,520 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,406 |
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree | Seattle, WA | $63,736 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,091 |
| 12 | East Texas A&M UniversityMaster's Degree | Commerce, TX | $62,242 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,841 |
| 13 | Appalachian State UniversityMaster's Degree | Boone, NC | $59,631 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,836 |
| 14 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaMaster's Degree | Columbia, MO | $58,856 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,268 |
| 15 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleMaster's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $58,578 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,976 |
| 16 | Simmons UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $58,512 | Not available | Baseline needed | $25,265 |
| 17 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignMaster's Degree | Champaign, IL | $58,237 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,355 |
| 18 | East Carolina UniversityMaster's Degree | Greenville, NC | $58,122 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,739 |
| 19 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMaster's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $57,675 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,655 |
| 20 | Texas Woman's UniversityMaster's Degree | Denton, TX | $57,458 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,963 |
| 21 | University of North TexasMaster's Degree | Denton, TX | $57,395 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,649 |
| 22 | Drexel UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $56,671 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,509 |
| 23 | University at BuffaloMaster's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $56,619 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,995 |
| 24 | University of DenverMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $56,359 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,131 |
| 25 | North Carolina Central UniversityMaster's Degree | Durham, NC | $56,291 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,359 |
| 26 | University of Rhode IslandMaster's Degree | Kingston, RI | $56,115 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,440 |
| 27 | University of ArizonaMaster's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $55,970 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,674 |
| 28 | University of IowaMaster's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $55,946 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,531 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityMaster's Degree | California, PA | $55,619 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,256 |
| 30 | Syracuse UniversityMaster's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $55,160 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,793 |
| 31 | Wayne State UniversityMaster's Degree | Detroit, MI | $54,979 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,766 |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonMaster's Degree | Madison, WI | $54,976 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,354 |
| 33 | Dominican UniversityMaster's Degree | River Forest, IL | $54,946 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,745 |
| 34 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMaster's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $54,925 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,014 |
| 35 | Emporia State UniversityMaster's Degree | Emporia, KS | $54,843 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,261 |
| 36 | St Catherine UniversityMaster's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $54,584 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,764 |
| 37 | Valdosta State UniversityMaster's Degree | Valdosta, GA | $53,915 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,945 |
| 38 | University of Hawaii at ManoaMaster's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $53,802 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,664 |
| 39 | Indiana University-BloomingtonMaster's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $53,119 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,264 |
| 40 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaMaster's Degree | Columbia, SC | $52,842 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,811 |
| 41 | The University of AlabamaMaster's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $52,520 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,420 |
| 42 | Western Kentucky UniversityMaster's Degree | Bowling Green, KY | $52,390 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,990 |
| 43 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroMaster's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $52,258 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,965 |
| 44 | University of South FloridaMaster's Degree | Tampa, FL | $52,161 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,812 |
| 45 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeMaster's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $50,960 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,151 |
| 46 | University of KentuckyMaster's Degree | Lexington, KY | $50,534 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,851 |
| 47 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityMaster's Degree | Murfreesboro, TN | $50,169 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,359 |
| 48 | Kent State University at KentMaster's Degree | Kent, OH | $49,948 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,787 |
| 49 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusMaster's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,625 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,434 |
| 50 | Indiana University-IndianapolisMaster's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $49,513 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,668 |
| 51 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusMaster's Degree | Norman, OK | $49,361 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,300 |
| 52 | University of Southern MississippiMaster's Degree | Hattiesburg, MS | $48,769 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,708 |
| 53 | University of Central MissouriMaster's Degree | Warrensburg, MO | $48,021 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,462 |
| 54 | Northeastern State UniversityMaster's Degree | Tahlequah, OK | $47,552 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,710 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.