Library and Information Science major
Library and Information Science: courses, careers, and where to study
A field that organizes, preserves, and connects people to information across formats, focused on collections, cataloging, reference, and access rather than building computer systems.
Library and Information Science is the study of how recorded knowledge is organized, preserved, and connected to the people who need it. Students learn to develop and maintain collections in print, audiovisual, and electronic forms, and to describe those materials so they can be found later. Coursework covers cataloging and classification, metadata standards, reference and research services, and the systems that store and retrieve information across local, remote, and networked collections. The field also examines how communities use information and how access can be made fair, dependable, and ethical. This focus sets it apart from information systems and information technology, which build and run the underlying computing infrastructure, and from English, which centers on the close reading and interpretation of texts rather than the work of organizing and providing access to them.
At the bachelor's level, students gain a foundation in collection development, information organization, and user services, and graduates often enter library, archive, and information-support roles that assist with cataloging, circulation, research help, and records work. Programs typically pair classroom study with practical experience such as practicums, supervised projects in a library or archive, and hands-on work with catalog and database tools. It is important to be honest about the credential ladder: the professional librarian title in the United States is usually earned through a master's degree, frequently a program accredited by the American Library Association, and some school-library positions add a state teaching credential. Graduates work in public, academic, school, and special libraries, as well as archives, museums, government agencies, and organizations that manage records and information. Confirm the accreditation and credential rules for the setting you intend to enter.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of librarians and media collections specialists, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $64,320 and projects employment to grow about 1.7% from 2024 to 2034; a master's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Library and Information Science maps to CIP 25.0101, Library and Information Science, within the LIBRARY SCIENCE family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the knowledge and skills required to develop, organize, store, retrieve, administer, and facilitate the use of local, remote, and networked collections of information in print, audiovisual, and electronic formats and that prepares individuals for professional service as librarians and information consultants.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Library and Information Science is awarded as
Of the 6,141 Library and Information Science credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate<1%7
- Associate<1%13
- Bachelor's2%110
- Graduate98%6,011
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 31 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 0 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Develop, organize, and preserve collections in print, audiovisual, and electronic formats
- Cataloging and classification of library and archival materials
- Metadata standards and the description of information resources
- Reference, research help, and information-literacy instruction
- Information storage and retrieval across networked collections
- Collection development and the evaluation of sources
- Archival arrangement, preservation, and records management
- Information access, ethics, and service to diverse communities
- Database and catalog tools used to manage and locate materials
Typical careers
- Librarian
- Cataloger
- Archivist
- Reference and Research Assistant
- Library Technician
- Information or Records Specialist
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 librarians and media collections specialists median $64,320).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Library and Information Science, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $136,550 | 106,700 | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $64,320 | 13,500 | +1.7% | Master's degree |
| Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,630 | 400 | +3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 3 of these 3 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Library and Information Science does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Library and Information Science major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Library and Information Science program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Library and Information Science department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Library and Information Science program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Library and Information Science credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- San Jose State UniversityCA · 764
- Texas Woman's UniversityTX · 312
- University of North TexasTX · 267
- University of Southern MississippiMS · 205
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLA · 180
- University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSC · 174
- Emporia State UniversityKS · 162
- Pennsylvania Western UniversityPA · 161
- University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · 158
- Kent State University at KentOH · 147
- Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · 144
- Indiana University-IndianapolisIN · 142
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Library and Information Science credentials were awarded
3 states have a distinct enough set of Library and Information Science colleges to be worth its own page.
Search Library and Information Science schools by state
- Library and Information Science in California
- Library and Information Science in Florida
- Library and Information Science in Georgia
- Library and Information Science in Illinois
- Library and Information Science in Maryland
- Library and Information Science in Massachusetts
- Library and Information Science in New York
- Library and Information Science in North Carolina
- Library and Information Science in Pennsylvania
- Library and Information Science in Texas
Related majors
Information Systems
Information Systems bridges business and technology, teaching students to design, analyze, and manage the systems organizations run on, suiting those drawn to both computing and how companies operate.
Information Technology
Information Technology (IT) focuses on applying computing systems to organizational needs, administering networks, supporting users, building business systems, and managing IT operations.
English & Literature
English develops critical reading, analytical writing, and rhetorical skill, a flexible major that feeds into law, publishing, education, marketing, and any field that values communication.
Communications
Communications studies how messages move through media, combining writing, public speaking, and media analysis with hands-on training in PR, journalism, broadcasting, or strategic communication.
History
History trains graduates in research, evidence, and argument, feeding into law, education, museums, government, and any field that values long-form analytical writing.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Library and Information Science degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Education & Library careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Library and Information Science degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Library and Information Science path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.