We live in an age where information can be received just about anywhere from multiple sources. Never in history has there been more content, data — whatever you want to call it. This is all fine so long as you're able to use that information, but that's an increasingly difficult task. And without the ability to organize, synthesize, and evaluate information, it ceases to be information. It's just stuff – worse, useless, and now endless. The organizations that are able to leverage all this information stand to make potentially unprecedented advances, and employers are on the look: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs among Information Research Scientists are expected to grow 11% through 2024, faster than the national average. For those interested in the field, however, most employers are looking for professionals with a graduate-level degree in the area.
A Master's in Library Science and Information Sciences is the most versatile and common of such programs, and is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of career tracks, including head librarian (public, private, academic, corporate, etc.), data curator, research specialist, consulting, finance, and much more. Further, most MLS/MIS degrees are highly customizable, with minimal core requirements in order to allow students to tailor a curriculum that fits a student's professional interests. Below, find our top 5 online programs.
If you are looking for information of a more general nature on distance learning, visit our ranking of online colleges.
Methodology:Affordability (1/3): the average out-of-state tuition per credit hour
Completion Time (1/3): minimum amount of course work required for certification
Academic Reputation (1/3): the rank of the school's parent institution according to US News
