Comparison Guide
to Distance Ed Programs
for Getting the MLS
Want to get your MLS degree online? This is our first effort at helping you choose an online degree program. The following are ALA accredited schools which offer an online master's degree. The information is correct as we found it, but of course you will contact the school directly for more information. This is especially true in the Price/Credit column, where scholarships, regional discounts, and special programs may affect the cost. Also, double-check the application deadline of your school of choice. We appreciate any corrections or updated information. We would also like to link students' experiences in these programs to this website. So if you are a graduate of one of these programs and wish to share your story, please email us. |
ALA Accredited Distance Ed Program Comparison Matrix |
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| Institution | Cost In State |
Cost Out of State |
Res. Req. | Credits | Contact Information |
Application Deadline |
| University of Alabama* School of Library & Information Studies |
$278/ online credit |
$278/ online credit |
Mandatory 4-day orientation course | 36 credits | briggs@slis.ua.edu (205) 348-1527 |
Fall admission only: April 15 deadline |
| University
of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science |
$370/ credit hour |
$990/ credit hour |
Mandatory 7-day orientation course | 36 credits |
plmitch@u.arizona.edu |
Fall: April 1 Spring: Sept. 1 Summer: Feb. 1 |
| Clarion University Department of Library Science |
$963/ 3 credit |
$982/ 3 credit |
No | 36 credits | reed@clarion.edu | |
| Drexel University College of Information Science & Technology |
$780/ quarter credit |
$780 (Discount for NJ, MD, PA, LA) |
No | 45 quarter credits |
info@drexel.com |
Fall: July 30 Winter: TBD Spring: TBD |
| Emporia State
University* School of Library & Information Management |
$158/ credit hour |
$424/ credit hour (Discount for MO, NE, OK, CO, TX) |
No | 36 credits | sliminfo@emporia.edu (800) 552-4770 |
Fall: May 1 Spring: Oct 1 Summer: Feb 1 |
| The Florida State University College of Information |
$287/ credit hour |
$888 (partial waiver available) |
No | 42 credits [Fall 07: 36 credits] |
grad@ci.fsu.edu (850) 644-5772 |
Fall 05:June 1 Spring Nov 1 |
| University of Illinois Grad. School of Library & Information Science, Urbana-Champaign |
$338/ credit hour |
$838 | 10 day summer, + 1 visit/ semester |
40 credits |
apply@alexia.lis. |
Summer admission
only: March 1 deadline |
| North
Carolina Central University* School of Library & Information Sciences |
$1200/ 6 semester hours |
$4600/ 6 semester hours |
No | 36 credits | tjacobs@nccu.edu (919) 530-7320 |
Fall: July 1 Spring: November 1 |
| University of North Texas School of Library & Information Sciences |
$917/ 3 credit hours |
$1742/ 3 hours |
8 or 9 day program | 36 credits | SLISAdvising@ lis.admin.unt.edu (940) 565-2445 |
See: www.unt.edu/catalogs/ |
| See: http://essc.unt.edu/ saucs/tuition.htm for updated info |
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| University of Pittsburgh* School of Information Sciences |
$640/ credit hour |
$1168 | 1 initial 5-day visit, then 1 weekend a term | 36 credits |
ftinfo@sis.pitt.edu |
Admission for Summer: Feb 14 Fall: June 14 |
| Rutgers The State
University of NJ School of Communication, Information and Library Studies |
$478.50/ credit hour + fees |
$711/ credit + fees |
2 days initial and 1 optional one day a year | 36 credits | pds@scils.rutgers.edu (732) 932-7169 |
Fall: March 1 Spring: October 1 |
| San Jose State University* School of Library & Information Science |
$439 unit | $439 unit | No | 43 credits | lmain@slis.sjsu.edu http://slisweb.sjsu.edu (408) 924-2494 | Fall: deadline: March 31; Spring: September 29th |
| University of South Florida School of Library & Information Sciences |
$268 credit hour |
$930 | 2 courses must be taken in person or transfer | 39 credits | tpace@cas.usf.edu Prefers email |
Fall: June 1 Spring: October 1 Summer: March 1 |
| Southern Connecticut
University Department of Information & Library Science |
$435/ credit hour |
$435 | No | 36 credits | bielefielda1@ southernct.edu (888) 500-7278, press 4 |
Fall: March 1 Spring: Sept 1 |
| University of Southern
Mississippi* School of Library & Information Science |
$819/for 3 credit hours + $80 fee |
$819/for 3 credit hours + $80 fee |
No | 39 credits | slis@usm.edu (601) 266-4228 |
Summer: March 1 Fall: March 15 Spring: September 15 |
| Syracuse
University School of Information Studies |
$806/ credit hour |
$806 | 7 day program in July | 36 credits |
mslis@syr.edu |
Fall: Feb 15 preferred |
| University of Tennessee* School of Information Sciences |
$310/ credit hour |
$937 (AR, VA, WV eligible for in-state tuition) |
2 day orientation | 42 credits |
sis@utk.edu |
Fall admission only: Spring application. |
| Texas Woman's University School of Library & Information Studies |
$740 for 3 credit class |
$1543 for 3 credit class |
Optional | 36 credits | Slis@twu.edu (940) 898-2602 |
Fall: February 15 Spring: September 15 Summer: February 15 |
| University of Washington* The Information School |
$486/ quarter credit hour |
$486 | 3-5 days each quarter | 63 quarter credits | mlis@ischool. washington.edu (206) 543-1794 |
Fall admissions
only: Mar 15 for end of September start |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies |
$608/ credit hour |
$608 | No | 36 credits | schoeller@ sois.uwm.edu (414) 229-4707 |
Fall 05: Feb 1 Spring: Jun 1 Summer: Oct 1 |
| Valdosta State University* | $499 3 credit course | $1816 3 credit course | 90% online (weekend first course) | 39 credits | wkoehler@valdosta.edu (229) 333-5860 | Fall: May 1 Spring: Nov 1 |
| Masters in School Library programs only (NCATE accredited) | ||||||
| E. Carolina University* Department of Library Science and Instructional Technology |
$238 with fees |
$811 with fees |
No | 39 credits | Dr. Larry
White,
whitel@ecu.edu (252) 328-2315 |
June 1 for Fall admission; October 15 for Spring; March 15 for Summer |
| Mansfield
University* School Library and Information Technologies School Library and Information Technologies |
$345/ credit hour + $187 fees |
$552/ credit hour + $209 fees |
No | 33-35 credits | ckeller@ mansfield.edu (717) 816-6995 |
30 days before
semester; April 15 for summer |
| * Updated March, 2008 or after | ||||||
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