Library Science and Administration: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$392,187 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−148%Modeled 10-year ROI
$32,301Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$32,301Median reported earnings · year 4
$35,850Average reported earnings · year 5
$34,536Median federal debt
1thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
59IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
3With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 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.
CURRENT VIEW
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$30,340National median$32,30175th percentile$32,301
3 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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
3 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1The University of Arizona Global CampusChandler, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$38,786Federal debt$35,813Annual net price$31,2662University of Maine at AugustaAugusta, ME · PublicYear-4 earnings$32,301Federal debt$34,536Annual net price$10,9243University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MS · PublicYear-4 earnings$30,340Federal debt$24,937Annual net price$21,708
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1The University of Arizona Global Campus$38,7862University of Maine at Augusta$32,3013University of Southern Mississippi$30,340Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations and current wages
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job. Wage estimates describe occupations nationwide—not graduates of this degree.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$68,270 median wage133,790 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-4022$43,660–$103,990 10th–90th percentileManagers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentileLibrary Science Teachers, Postsecondary$80,340 median wage3,630 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1082$57,200–$129,120 10th–90th percentileArchivists$64,550 median wage7,970 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-4011$39,970–$110,550 10th–90th percentile
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · May 2025 estimates, published May 2026.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Arizona Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Chandler, AZ | $38,786 | $35,813 | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | University of Maine at AugustaBachelor's Degree | Augusta, ME | $32,301 | $34,536 | -157% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | University of Southern MississippiBachelor's Degree | Hattiesburg, MS | $30,340 | $24,937 | -155% | Negative payoff |
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.