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Library Science and Administration

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Library Science and Administration

Library Science and Administration graduates earn $36,949 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $23,200 and $51,608. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Library Science and Administration

This page covers Library Science and Administration as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Library Science and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Library Science and Administration is a focused area of study within Library Science. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $36,949 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 84 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 6,224 students complete it each year, most walking away with a master's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $27,108
Median Earnings · 4yr: $36,949
Colleges Offering: 84
Graduates / Year: 6,224
Avg Net Price / yr: $17,853

How Much Do Library Science and Administration Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Library Science and Administration, a typical graduate earns $36,949, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $23,200 and $51,608, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $27,108 at one year out to $36,949 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$27,108

1 Year After Graduation

Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.

$36,949

4-Year National Median

Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.

$32,301

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Library Science and Administration graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$23,200 25th pct.

$36,949 Median

$51,608 75th pct.

Is the Cost Worth It?

At median 4-year earnings of $36,949 and an estimated $71,412 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 10.3 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 12 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 6,224 students who complete Library Science and Administration programs each year, the majority (89%) earn a master's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

89%

Master's 89%

Post-Bacc Cert. 4%

Post-Master's Cert. 4%

What Can You Do With a Library Science and Administration Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Library Science and Administration graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Librarian pays the most at $68,270/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Librarian earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +2.6% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Librarian

$68,270

$56K $84K 25th–75th pct.

Master's degree 12,600 openings/yr 134K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Active Listening Speaking Writing Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.

Check books in and out of the library.
Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.

↗ +3.4% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Archivists

$64,550

$51K $83K 25th–75th pct.

Master's degree 1,100 openings/yr 8K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Active Listening Writing Speaking Active Learning

Day-to-day responsibilities

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.
Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.

Top Colleges for Library Science and Administration

Not sure where to study Library Science and Administration? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at San Jose State University, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public	702	84.6%	$13,760	$78,988
2	Texas Woman's University Denton, TX · Public	325	96.1%	$11,963	$56,544
3	Simmons University Boston, MA · Nonprofit	279	70%	$25,265	$63,494
4	University of North Texas Denton, TX · Public	271	72.2%	$15,649	$57,010
5	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA · Public	231	73.3%	$19,151	$61,251
6	University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS · Public	228	99.1%	$21,708	$44,140
7	Pennsylvania Western University California, PA · Public	188	94.3%	$18,256	$47,295
8	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC · Public	156	88.5%	$10,965	$48,160
9	Wayne State University Detroit, MI · Public	152	81.2%	$12,766	$53,493
10	Emporia State University Emporia, KS · Public	151	97.7%	$16,261	$47,601
11	Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ · Public	149	58.2%	$24,406	$74,479
12	University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC · Public	148	60.2%	$22,811	$62,177
13	Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH · Public	146	86.3%	$20,787	$45,388
14	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI · Public	140	90.7%	$15,014	$54,990
15	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public	134	39.2%	$14,091	$78,466
16	Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA · Public	128	72.3%	$10,945	$49,361
17	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD · Public	122	44.8%	$15,678	$82,860
18	University of South Florida Tampa, FL · Public	112	43.2%	$9,812	$57,743
19	Syracuse University Syracuse, NY · Nonprofit	110	45.9%	$38,793	$79,164
20	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN · Public	108	41.6%	$18,976	$60,249

View all colleges

Ranked by Library Science and Administration graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Library Science and Administration program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Library Science and Administration degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Library Science and Administration Degree: Pros & Cons

Library Science and Administration carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $27,108 at graduation to $36,949 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 13,700 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.

CONS

Below-average earnings Four-year median of $36,949 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Long earnings breakeven At median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 10.3 years.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($23,200) and 75th ($51,608) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Library Science and Administration Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Library Science and Administration graduates earn?

$36,949 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $23,200 and $51,608, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Library Science and Administration degree?

$27,108 in the first year out. That grows to $36,949 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Library Science and Administration degree?

Librarian is one path, and it pays a median of $68,270 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Library Science and Administration program take?

Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Library Science and Administration students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.

How many colleges offer Library Science and Administration?

84 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Library Science and Administration degree worth it?

$36,949 median earnings four years out against $17,853 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Library Science and Administration and Library Science?

Library Science and Administration is the narrower of the two: Library Science covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Library Science and Administration-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Library Science and Administration graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Library Science and Administration graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Library Science and Administration graduates?

Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +3.0% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Archivists are among the strongest-growth roles at +3.4%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.