Concentration · CIP 25
Library Science
Library Science is a focused concentration spanning 3 majors at 29 colleges across the country. It prepares students to manage, catalog, and provide access to the information resources that schools, public libraries, archives, and organizations depend on. Programs range from hands-on paraprofessional training in Library and Archives Assisting — the most completed major in the family — to the broader conceptual and systems-oriented Library and Information Science path. With 287 total completions annually and a median wage of roughly $42,292 across the family, this concentration attracts students drawn to public service, preservation work, and the challenge of making information findable at any scale.
- Majors
- 3
- Colleges
- 29
- Annual completions
- 287
- Top career
- Managers, all other
Section 9 · Frequently asked
Common questions
How do I choose between Library and Archives Assisting and Library and Information Science?
The core question is credential level and career ceiling. Library and Archives Assisting is offered at all 29 colleges in this concentration and produces 161 completions annually — it is predominantly an associate's-level program designed to prepare library technicians, who earn a median $39,970. Library and Information Science, available at 15 colleges with 123 completions per year, is typically a bachelor's-level program that keeps the door open to graduate study and higher-earning roles such as Librarians and media collections specialists ($64,320) or management positions. If you want to enter the workforce quickly in a support role, Assisting is the direct route; if you want to advance to professional librarian or administrative roles, Information Science is the better foundation.
What do graduates from this concentration typically earn?
Median earnings across the Library Science family run about $42,292, which reflects the mix of paraprofessional and professional roles graduates enter. Library technicians — the primary career destination from Library and Archives Assisting — earn a median $39,970. Librarians and media collections specialists, who typically hold a graduate degree as well, earn a median $64,320. A smaller portion of graduates move into general management roles where median wages reach $136,550, though those positions require substantial experience and often additional credentials beyond the undergraduate program.
Which majors in this family are most common at the associate's level?
Library and Archives Assisting dominates at the associate's level, accounting for 161 of the 287 total annual completions in this concentration and appearing at all 29 colleges in the family. That breadth — more than twice the college footprint of Library and Information Science — reflects its role as a workforce credential designed for community colleges. Library and Information Science leans toward four-year programs and is offered at only 15 colleges, with 123 completions annually.
Does a bachelor's in Library Science lead directly to a librarian career?
Not always. Professional librarian roles — particularly in public and academic libraries — typically require a Master of Library Science (MLS) degree in addition to undergraduate preparation. The Library and Information Science major (123 completions per year at 15 colleges) builds the foundational knowledge of cataloging systems, information architecture, and reference services that makes graduate study more manageable, but the bachelor's alone will most likely place graduates in library technician or archives support roles. Students aiming for the Librarians and media collections specialists career ($64,320 median wage) should plan for graduate school as part of their pathway.
How small is this concentration compared to other fields?
Library Science is among the smaller CIP families tracked in undergraduate education. With 29 colleges offering programs, 287 total annual completions, and only 3 recognized majors, it is a highly specialized field. For context, larger concentrations span hundreds of majors and tens of thousands of completions per year. That small scale means fewer program choices and less geographic distribution, so students should carefully check which nearby schools offer the specific track — Library and Archives Assisting versus Library and Information Science — that matches their goals.