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Master of Library and Information Science

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MLIS Statistics

  1. Programs
  2. MLIS
  3. MLIS Statistics

Statistics on recent MLIS students and alumni:

Retention Rate & Time to Degree*

MLIS Residential Students

Cohort year1-year retention rate2-year graduation rateAverage time to degree (months)
201594%77%22.4
201695%90%22.5
201797%87%22.7
201895%93%21.5
201985%86%22.5
202088%96%20.7
202194%98%20.4
202294%NANA
202396.7%NANA

MLIS Online Students

Cohort year1-year retention rate3-year graduation rateAverage time to degree (months)
201591%87%27.0
201694%92%27.7
201787%73%27.9
201895%88%27.0
201990%95%26.0
202094%96%25.2
202188%NANA
202296%NANA
202387.5%NANA

MLIS Law Librarianship Students

Cohort year1-year retention rate1-year graduation rateAverage time to degree (months)
2015NA100%11.0
2016NA100%10.6
2017NA100%10.6
2018NA100%10.9
2019NA100%10.9
2020NA100%11.6
2021NA100%10.6
2022NA100%10.6
2023NA100%10.9

Employment Data**

The majority of MLIS students graduate in June each year, and the employment survey remains open till December. Data reflects employment status anywhere from 1 to 6 months after graduation. *Due to a low response rate to the 2024 Next Destination Survey, 2023-2024 numbers were drawn from the iSchool’s Alumni Relations team utilizing LinkedIn data.

MLIS students graduating:

  • Autumn 2016
  • Winter 2017
  • Spring 2017
  • Summer 2017

62 of 92 respondents employed, 67% 

59 of 92 respondents employed in degree-related field, 64% 

MLIS students graduating:

  • Autumn 2017
  • Winter 2018
  • Spring 2018
  • Summer 2018

64 of 74 respondents employed, 86% 

58 of 74 respondents employed in degree-related field, 78% 

MLIS students graduating:

  • Autumn 2018
  • Winter 2019
  • Spring 2019
  • Summer 2019

128 graduates were surveyed, 83 responded, 65% 

65 of 83 respondents report being employed, 78% 

52 of 65 report being employed in a degree-related field, 80% 

MLIS students graduating:

  • Autumn 2019
  • Winter 2020
  • Spring 2020
  • Summer 2020

127 graduates were surveyed, 73 responded, 57% 

56 of 73 respondents report being employed, 77% 

49 of 56 report being employed in a degree-related field, 88% 

MLIS students graduating:

  • Autumn 2020
  • Winter 2021
  • Spring 2021
  • Summer 2021

128 graduates were surveyed, 53 responded, 41% 

26 of 53 respondents report being employed, 49% 

22 of 26 report being employed in a degree-related field, 85% 

MLIS students graduating:

  • Autumn 2021
  • Winter 2022
  • Spring 2022
  • Summer 2022

152 graduates were surveyed, 71 responded, 47% 

53 of 71 respondents report being employed, 75% 

45 of 53 report being employed in a degree-related field, 85% 

MLIS students graduating:

  • Autumn 2022
  • Winter 2023
  • Spring 2023
  • Summer 2023

124 graduates were surveyed, 31 responded, 25% 

15 of 31 respondents report being employed FT (30+ hours), 48% 
4 of 31 respondents are employed PT (less than 30 hours), 13% 

12 of 31 are seeking employment, 39% 

MLIS students graduating:

  • Autumn 2023
  • Winter 2024
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024

134 students graduated, 123 self-reported 

85 (69%) of 123 graduates report being employed. 
41 (33%) of 123 graduates report being employed in a degree-related field. 

Distribution of Students Self-Reported by Race/Ethnicity

Data on student population is tabulated in October of each year.

Race / Ethnicity20172018201920202021202220232024
Black or African American2.3%3.2%3.4%2.6%2.3%3.1%3.2%2.7%
American Indian0.8%0.9%0.6%0.5%0.8%0.3%0.5%0.5%
Asian American5.6%5.5%5.7%8.4%6.9%7.3%5.3%5.4%
Caucasian70.4%74.0%73.4%70.9%69.4%66.4%67.2%67.7%
Hispanic11.3%9.2%9.2%9.7%10.7%12.3%12%11.6%
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%0%0%0%0%0.3%0.3%0.5%
International (unspecified)2.8%2.3%1.7%1.3%1.5%2.8%3.2%3.5%
Two or more races5.4%4.0%5.4%6.3%7.9%6.4%6.9%7.3%
Unknown1.4%0.9%0.6%0.3%0.5%1.1%1.3%0.8%

* For graduation rates and time to degree, MLIS Residential only includes full-time students. For retention, it includes both full- and part-time students. MLIS Online is primarily part-time. Students entering fall 2022 have not yet had enough time to graduate. Cohorts assume everyone starts in the fall. 

** In 2023, the alumni survey was transitioned to a different center for distribution. The timing of send did not result in adequate response numbers and did not indicate whether employment was in a degree-related field. 

Resources:

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News

Ndeye Diop shows her poster to a visitor

22 Informatics students show their work at research symposium

Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Twenty-two Informatics students showcased their research at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Held on May 16, the event – titled “Take Flight!” -- featured five poster sessions, three oral presentation...
Read more
Kathryn Perry Bolin

MLIS Capstone showcases a lesser-known part of U.S. history

Friday, May 30, 2025
The words “concentration camp” bring about disturbing images and evoke an emotional response. When people think of concentration camps, their minds are likely to turn to the Nazi extermination camps of World War II. However, many...
Read more

Events

Jun 6
 
12:00-1:00PM

MLIS Last Chance Q&A

Zoom / Online
Jun 7
 
12:00-2:30PM

Information School Convocation Ceremony

Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Jun 10
 
5:00-6:00PM

Shaping the Future with an MS in Information Management: Alumni Panel & Insights

Virtual / Zoom
Jun 10
 
7:00-7:45PM

iSchool Read-Alongs Series: June

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