Best institutions to study School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist
A program that prepares individuals to serve as librarians and media specialists in elementary and secondary schools as well as special instructional centers.
34 U.S. institutions graduated 578 School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.1334, a specialization of Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13), and leads most directly to the Librarians and Media Collections Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 25-4022).
About School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist programs
A program that prepares individuals to serve as librarians and media specialists in elementary and secondary schools as well as special instructional centers.
See also: 25.0101 - Library and Information Science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist program, part of Teacher Education and Professional Development, prepares individuals to become effective librarians and media specialists in elementary and secondary schools, as well as special instructional centers. This program is ideal for those passionate about education and eager to support students in their learning journeys through access to diverse resources and information literacy skills.
Learn more about School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist →
Students in this program develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers topics in customer service, educational training, and the use of technology in libraries, equipping graduates to manage library resources and assist patrons effectively.
Credentials awarded
What School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree353 graduates / yr · 19 institutions61%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate223 graduates / yr · 16 institutions39%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.3%
Graduates over time
School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 221 |
| 2013 | 221 |
| 2014 | 172 |
| 2015 | 295 |
| 2016 | 278 |
| 2017 | 298 |
| 2018 | 340 |
| 2019 | 343 |
| 2020 | 329 |
| 2021 | 365 |
| 2022 | 407 |
| 2023 | 401 |
| 2024 | 529 |
| 2025 | 578 |
Top 34 institutions for School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of West Georgia Carrollton, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 56 | 43% | — | $43,308 |
| 2 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 45 | 75% | — | — |
| 3 | Cambridge College Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 39 | 11% | — | — |
| 4 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicMaster's | 32 | 50% | — | $35,740 |
| 5 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 28 | 58% | — | $38,211 |
| 6 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicPost-degree cert. | 26 | 57% | — | $38,576 |
| 7 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicMaster's | 26 | 61% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 25 | 54% | — | $33,198 |
| 9 | St. John Fisher University Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 24 | 74% | $25,213 | — |
| 10 | East Central University Ada, OKPublicMaster's | 24 | 34% | — | — |
| 11 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MNPublicPost-degree cert.Master's | 23 | 40% | — | $43,279 |
| 12 | CUNY Queens College Queens, NYPublicMaster'sMaster's | 22 | 53% | — | $58,894 |
| 13 | Murray State University Murray, KYPublicMaster's | 21 | 61% | — | — |
| 14 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 21 | 84% | $28,851 | $49,186 |
| 15 | Longwood University Farmville, VAPublicMaster's | 18 | 61% | — | — |
| 16 | Salem State University Salem, MAPublicPost-degree cert. | 16 | 50% | — | — |
| 17 | Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GAPublicMaster's | 15 | 64% | — | — |
| 18 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicPost-degree cert. | 13 | 55% | — | $35,764 |
| 19 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicMaster's | 12 | 64% | — | $35,860 |
| 20 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 11 | 55% | — | $41,063 |
| 21 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LAPublicPost-degree cert. | 11 | 43% | — | $46,458 |
| 22 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicMaster's | 11 | 37% | — | $47,741 |
| 23 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CTPublicPost-degree cert. | 10 | 50% | — | $29,653 |
| 24 | McDaniel College Westminster, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 63% | $18,988 | — |
| 25 | Plymouth State University Plymouth, NHPublicMaster's | 10 | 52% | — | $41,035 |
| 26 | University of South Alabama Mobile, ALPublicMaster's | 7 | 53% | — | $26,888 |
| 27 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, ARPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 49% | — | $44,843 |
| 28 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MNPublicMaster's | 5 | 54% | — | $43,307 |
| 29 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TNPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 53% | — | — |
| 30 | Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 50% | $14,298 | — |
| 31 | Valley City State University Valley City, NDPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 53% | — | $44,886 |
| 32 | McNeese State University Lake Charles, LAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 47% | — | — |
| 33 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 68% | — | $51,097 |
| 34 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 46% | — | $33,690 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Teacher Education and Professional Development field (CIP 13.13) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 20 states
Where School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist graduates come from. Each state links to all Teacher Education and Professional Development programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 5 | 138 | University at Buffalo45 / yr |
| Georgia | 3 | 82 | University of West Georgia56 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 55 | Cambridge College39 / yr |
| Kentucky | 2 | 53 | Eastern Kentucky University32 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 53 | Missouri State University - Springfield28 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 36 | East Central University24 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 28 | Saint Cloud State University23 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 26 | Montana State University26 / yr |
| Virginia | 2 | 19 | Longwood University18 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 13 | University of Maine13 / yr |
| Louisiana | 2 | 12 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana11 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 12 | Kent State University at Kent12 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 10 | Southern Connecticut State University10 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 10 | McDaniel College10 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 10 | Plymouth State University10 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 7 | University of South Alabama7 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 5 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus5 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 4 | East Tennessee State University4 / yr |
| California | 1 | 3 | Fresno Pacific University3 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 2 | Valley City State University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-4022, Librarians and Media Collections Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the program typically pursue careers as Librarians and Media Collections Specialists. The job outlook indicates little or no change in this field, with an annual opening of approximately 13,500 positions. The median wage for this occupation is $64,320, and a Master's degree is typically required for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.1334
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Librarians and Media Collections Specialistsprimary SOC 25-4022 | $68,270 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
- Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
- Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
- Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
Tools and technology used
Other Teacher Education and Professional Development specializations
The 37 other 6-digit CIP codes under Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13).
- Physical Education Teaching and CoachingCIP 13.13147,066 graduates / yr415 institutions
- Reading Teacher EducationCIP 13.13156,128 graduates / yr305 institutions
- Music Teacher EducationCIP 13.13124,104 graduates / yr447 institutions
- Mathematics Teacher EducationCIP 13.13113,340 graduates / yr347 institutions
- English/CIP 13.1305
Language Arts Teacher Education 2,847 graduates / yr349 institutions - Teacher Education and Professional DevelopmentCIP 13.13992,468 graduates / yr113 institutions
- Social Studies Teacher EducationCIP 13.13181,922 graduates / yr219 institutions
- Art Teacher EducationCIP 13.13021,858 graduates / yr258 institutions
- Health Teacher EducationCIP 13.13071,475 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Agricultural Teacher EducationCIP 13.13011,051 graduates / yr68 institutions
- Science Teacher Education/CIP 13.1316
General Science Teacher Education 1,021 graduates / yr160 institutions - History Teacher EducationCIP 13.1328976 graduates / yr128 institutions
- Biology Teacher EducationCIP 13.1322702 graduates / yr145 institutions
- Trade and Industrial Teacher EducationCIP 13.1320695 graduates / yr31 institutions
- Social Science Teacher EducationCIP 13.1317498 graduates / yr66 institutions
- Technology Teacher Education/CIP 13.1309
Industrial Arts Teacher Education 389 graduates / yr33 institutions - Technical Teacher EducationCIP 13.1319356 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Spanish Language Teacher EducationCIP 13.1330342 graduates / yr96 institutions
- Foreign Language Teacher EducationCIP 13.1306264 graduates / yr61 institutions
- Family and Consumer Sciences/CIP 13.1308
Home Economics Teacher Education 261 graduates / yr38 institutions - Drama and Dance Teacher EducationCIP 13.1324242 graduates / yr49 institutions
- Chemistry Teacher EducationCIP 13.1323209 graduates / yr63 institutions
- Computer Teacher EducationCIP 13.1321183 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Business and Innovation/CIP 13.1303
Entrepreneurship Teacher Education 165 graduates / yr38 institutions - Earth Science Teacher EducationCIP 13.1337144 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Physics Teacher EducationCIP 13.1329120 graduates / yr39 institutions
- Environmental EducationCIP 13.1338105 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Health Occupations Teacher EducationCIP 13.132789 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Speech Teacher EducationCIP 13.1331partial data60 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Driver and Safety Teacher EducationCIP 13.1304partial data40 graduates / yr4 institutions
- French Language Teacher EducationCIP 13.132526 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Communication Arts and Literature Teacher EducationCIP 13.1339partial data14 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Sales and Marketing Operations/CIP 13.1310
Marketing and Distribution Teacher Education limited data8 graduates / yr2 institutions - Latin Teacher EducationCIP 13.1333partial data7 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Psychology Teacher EducationCIP 13.1335partial data5 graduates / yr4 institutions
- German Language Teacher EducationCIP 13.1326partial data4 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Geography Teacher EducationCIP 13.1332limited data2 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Teacher Education and Professional Development programs →
Common questions
What degree do I need to become a school librarian?+
A Master's degree is typically required for this profession.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for school librarians?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 13,500 annual openings.
What tasks do school librarians typically perform?+
They check books in and out, teach computer skills, and evaluate library materials.
What is the CIP code for School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist?+
School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist is CIP 13.1334 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to serve as librarians and media specialists in elementary and secondary schools as well as special instructional centers.
How many institutions offer School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist programs?+
34 U.S. institutions reported School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 20 states, awarding 578 credentials in the year. That is 1.5% of all Teacher Education and Professional Development graduates.
How much do School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Librarians and Media Collections Specialists occupation, which School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist most directly leads to, pays a median of $68,270 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Teacher Education and Professional Development field report median earnings of $41,063 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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