Online Master's in Library Science (MLIS): Reviewing Schools

Reputable Online Library Science Master’s Degrees

While rewarding, a master’s degree can be a big commitment both personally and financially. To be sure that you’re investing your time and money wisely, it’s important to properly research schools before committing to an MLIS program.

If you’re busy or prefer to learn online, virtual or hybrid learning options may be the right fit. As you look into graduate programs, consider some of the perks of remote learning, such as the flexibility, affordability, and pace of online coursework. You may also want to consider important factors in your program search like accreditation and funding.

To help you begin your search for the right online MLIS program, we’ve gathered information and requirements from available programs across the country.

FAQs From Future MLIS Grads

Can you earn a master’s in library science completely online?

You can complete some MLIS programs entirely online with no on-campus or in-person obligations. Other programs may follow a hybrid course format, requiring you to complete classes both online and in-person.

Degree requirements vary among schools, as some require you to complete an internship, externship, or practicum at an approved location for hands-on learning. Alternatively, you’ll find programs that ask learners to complete a final project, create a portfolio of work, or take a comprehensive exam in order to graduate. These options can usually be finished remotely.

How fast can I earn a master’s in library science degree online?

In a full-time, accelerated program, you may be able to complete your degree in as little as three consecutive semesters, or about one calendar year. On the other hand, part-time learners can take up to three or four years to complete the program, depending on their workload.

Additional factors that will affect the duration of your program include whether or not your degree includes in-person requirements like on-campus residences or internships or a final project, portfolio, or final exam. If you have transferable credits from previous graduate work at another school, you might be able to save time and money by getting credit for those. Check with your prospective department or registrar to get more information on transfer credits for MLIS degree-seekers.

How much does an online master’s in library science cost?

The cost of your online master’s in library science will vary among schools and depends on several factors. First, public schools tend to offer lower tuition rates than private schools. Your tuition rates might also be higher if you’re an out-of-state learner, even if you’re completing classes online.

The duration of your program or how long it takes you to satisfy your credit requirements will also have some bearing on how much you’ll spend. Lastly, the funding you’ve secured ahead of time through grants and scholarships greatly affects how much you’ll pay out of pocket. If you’re searching for more funding options for your MLIS degree, you may want to check out the scholarships for public service students available today.

How do I get into an online master’s in library science program?

Admission requirements for the MLIS degrees are fairly similar among colleges and universities, with only a handful of variations. To improve your chances of acceptance, it helps to get to know the college admissions process thoroughly.

Most online master’s in library science programs require you to possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Schools often consider a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher to be competitive. Not all programs require you to submit Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores for consideration, but some do.

Lastly, you might need to participate in an admissions interview or demonstrate computer/technology literacy. These programs tend to be moderately competitive, with acceptance rates hovering between 50-70%.

Do I need a bachelor’s degree from a particular field to apply for an MLIS?

You can apply for an online master’s degree in library science with a bachelor’s degree from just about any field. It’s certainly possible that incoming students with a bachelor’s degree in the hard sciences might be slightly more prepared than those coming from non-STEM majors, although this should not deter you from applying or pursuing a career in library science.

Understanding the Online MLIS Curriculum

Every online master’s in library science program you consider will be a little bit different. You should expect that each program will have its own approach to taking you through the required knowledge for the field, including resource management, digital asset management, and advanced research skills. That said, here are five common course topics most programs cover.

Research Methods

A primary goal for most library science professionals is to improve general access to information and support academic endeavors for students, researchers, and the public. Through a research methods course, MLIS programs ensure that graduate students understand how to design and carry out research projects, employ theoretical frameworks, take advantage of published scholarly materials like peer-reviewed journals, and produce academic research proposals.

Classification and Cataloging

In this core class, you’ll explore the ways that library science professionals today organize both hardcopy and digital materials. Professors typically include instruction on Dewey Decimal Classification, Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, and Sears Subject Headings. The class also covers database maintenance, materials preparation, acquisitions, and circulation.

Instructional Materials and Teaching in Libraries

This course will help you develop essential skills for creating educational library programs using the latest technologies, as well as some non-traditional approaches. Students will learn to create educational content using an online platform, oftentimes for K-12 learners. Instructors of this course may also cover performance-based assessment models for librarians.

Society and Digital Culture

In a Society and Digital Culture course, you’ll get a better understanding of today’s evolving digital culture by examining the networks and systems that make global interconnectedness possible. Faculty often cover topics in digital ethics, social media movements, cross-cultural design, and the political aspects of digital technologies.

Genealogy and Local History

A Genealogy and Local History course covers U.S. genealogical tools used to locate community and family histories on existing records. In this course, you’ll learn how to navigate archived documents in print and digital formats. The course studies also cover copyrights, public and private recording keeping, and identity control.

Future Careers for Library Science Master’s Holders

Librarian

Becoming a librarian or library media specialist is often the most obvious career path for MLIS graduates. In this role, professionals work with community members, students, faculty, and others to find reference and reading materials.

Librarians also sometimes help with research projects and are often experts at extracting the right sources for a research project. This field is growing about as fast as the national average for all careers, and librarian salaries are about $64,730 annually.

Data Administrators

MLIS students develop a thorough understanding of the latest information technology and data management tools used across the field today. Library science professionals can put this knowledge to use in a variety of database administrative roles.

MLIS graduates working in the healthcare field, for example, can use IT and data management skills to improve healthcare services delivery that better serves patients. Data administration jobs are growing (at a 9% rate), and data management professionals make about $117,450 annually.

Archivists

Since librarians are experts at storing scholarly materials and maintaining professional and academic spaces where intellectual property is stored, they often make great archivists and curators as well.

The role of an archivist is to oversee a specific collection of work, often owned by a museum, community center, special collection, or historical society. The field is growing faster than the national job growth rate for all fields, and archivists make about $57,120 a year on average.

Leading Online Master of Library Science Schools

Now that you’ve read an overview of what an online MLIS can do for you, the next step will be finding the right program. To provide comparative data of different schools offering online MLIS degrees, our team ranked accredited programs in terms of affordability, academic rigor, and professional development services.

Key metrics we used include the percentage of coursework offered online, how much financial aid a program gets awarded, and the number of career development resources available to students. To learn more, click the “About the Rankings” button.