iSchool at Illinois ranked number one

iSchool Building

U.S. News & World Report has once again named the iSchool at Illinois the top graduate school for library and information studies, based on national rankings of accredited master's degree programs. The iSchool has held the top spot since 1996. 

"This recognition confirms our School's preeminence in teaching, research, and engagement," said Dean Eunice E. Santos. "Our School prepares students to succeed in a competitive job market and advances research that addresses contemporary challenges in society. Our strength lies in our multifaceted approach, which pushes the boundaries of creativity and embraces diversity and inclusion."

The iSchool's MS degree in library and information science (MSLIS) is a richly interdisciplinary program that provides expertise in diverse areas of research and practice. The flexible curriculum allows students to study on campus or online, tailoring a program to meet their career goals. In addition, the School offers individualized advising and career services, allowing students to benefit from a variety of experiential learning opportunities.

"We are leaders in creating well-trained professionals who support information access and think critically about the values that inform and drive their practice," said Maria Bonn, associate professor and MSLIS program director.

In addition to retaining the top position overall, the iSchool also ranked the highest in three of the six areas of specialization and placed in the top ten in the additional three areas:

  • #1 in Digital Librarianship (retained)
  • #1 in Information Systems (increased from #6)
  • #1 in Services for Children and Youth (retained)
  • #4 in School Library Media 
  • #5 in Health Librarianship
  • #7 in Archives and Preservation

The U.S. News rankings are based on the results of a fall 2020 and early 2021 peer assessment survey sent to deans, directors, and senior faculty in 55 programs accredited by the American Library Association. The last ranking for graduate programs in library and information studies occurred in 2017.

Congratulations to faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their contributions in making the iSchool the national leader in library and information studies. For the full list of rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report website.

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Townsend to support iSchool administration

Angelica Townsend joined the iSchool on March 17 as an office administrator. She will serve as the primary administrative support for the interim executive associate dean and the assistant dean for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. 

Angelica Townsend

Ochs and Fiedler featured in "Can’t Shelve This" podcast

School Librarian Licensure Coordinator Lauren Ochs and recent graduate Hannah Fiedler (MSLIS '24) are featured in episode six of "Can’t Shelve This," a podcast produced by Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) in collaboration with Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS). 

Lauren Ochs

Faculty receive support for AI-related projects from new pilot program

Associate Professor Yun Huang, Assistant Professor Jiaqi Ma, and Assistant Professor Haohan Wang have received computing resources from the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR), a two-year pilot program led by the National Science Foundation in partnership with other federal agencies and nongovernmental partners. The goal of the pilot is to support AI-related research with particular emphasis on societal challenges. Last month, awardees presented their research at the NAIRR Pilot Annual Meeting.

Winning exhibits highlight evolution of music media and Uni High magazine

MSLIS students Monica Gil, Holly Bleeden, and Harrison Price were selected as winners of this year's Graduate Student Exhibit Contest, sponsored by the University of Illinois Library. Gil and Bleeden won first place for their exhibit, "Echoes of Time: The Evolution of Music Media," and Price won second place for his exhibit, "Unique-ly Illinois: Creative Writing from High School to Higher Education." The exhibits will be on display in the Marshall Gallery in the library through the end of March.

MSLIS students Monica Gil and Holly Bleeden standing next to their exhibit, "Echoes of Time: The Evolution of Music Media," at the Main Library.