MLIS Scholarship Opportunities
Library and Professional Organizations
The library science profession has many scholarship opportunities open to students pursuing an MLIS degree. These tend to be smaller awards that can help offset the cost of pursuing your graduate degree.
- American Library Association’s (ALA) website is a great place to start.
- Research scholarships for more specific areas of librarianship such as the Association for Library Science to Children or the Medical Library Association, among others.
- Check out the blog I Need A Library Job or Library Land Index.
Suggested Scholarship Databases
There are a number of scholarship databases for you to search for funding based on your specific background, interests and experiences.
- Look through our list of scholarships
- Peterson’s Guide
- Fastweb
- Scholarships.com
- Bold.org Scholarships
- College Scholarships
If continuing to work while in school, check to see if your employer has a tuition reimbursement program.
Scholarships
MLIS students are eligible for numerous scholarships from national and regional organizations and businesses. Deadlines vary and details may change, so please consult each scholarship’s website for more information.
AALL Scholarships
Scholarships for individuals pursing Law Librarianship.
Alaska Library Association Scholarship
The stated purpose is to provide financial assistance to worthy students pursuing graduate studies leading to a Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies and to encourage graduates to return to Alaska to work in professional library positions. Scholarships may be awarded for both on-campus and/or distance education programs.
Alice L. Halton Educational Fund
The fund provides research grants, seminar support and other funding for projects related to information and records management.
American Library Association Scholarship Program
The American Library Association (ALA) is committed to promoting and advancing the librarian profession. To demonstrate this commitment, the ALA and its units provide more than $300,000 annually for study in a master's degree in library and information studies from an ALA accredited program, or for a master's degree with a specialty in school librarianship that meets the ALA curriculum guidelines for a Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited unit.
ALA provides a number of scholarships including scholarships for current library employees and for people interested in working with children or youth services.
Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA)
Sponsored by the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA) provides a number of scholarships and awards in the area of art librarianship. Awards are available for research and publications, conference attendance, and an internship in architecture.
Association for Library Service to Children Scholarships
Scholarships for MLIS students who plan to work in the area of library service to children.
Beta Phi Mu
These awards recognize and encourage scholastic achievement among library and information studies students.
California Library Association Scholarships
CLA's scholarships recognize future leaders in the California library community. All scholarship recipients are honored at the annual CLA Awards Gala. There are 3 scholarships offered.
E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentorship Program
Awarded by the Black Caucus of ALA. Students submit an essay on a topic designated each year.
International Education Financial Aid
IEFA is the premier resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad. At this site, you will find the most comprehensive college scholarship search and grant listings plus international student loan programs and other information to promote study abroad.
Karen Gersten-Sternheim Memorial Scholarship
The $3,000 Karen Gersten-Sternheim Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually by the SLA-SCC to a student member pursuing a career in special librarianship.
Lucille M. Wert Student Scholarship
American Chemical Society provides a scholarship designed to help people with an interest in the fields of Chemistry and Information to pursue graduate study in Library, Information, or Computer Science.
McKinstry Fellowship
The purpose of this endowment shall be to provide financial assistance to graduate students with academic merit and financial need who are pursuing their Master of Library and Information Science degree in the Information School. Selection of fellowship recipients shall be made by the Dean of the University Libraries or by his or her designee. Selection shall be based on academic merit and economic disadvantage.
Medical Library Association Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrated excellence in scholarship and potential for accomplishment in health sciences librarianship.
Music Library Association Scholarships
Awards for achievement in music librarianship, publication and research supporting music research.
NASIG and SISAC Fritz Schwartz Serials Education Scholarship
The North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) awards a $3,000 scholarship to a library/information science graduate student who demonstrates excellence in scholarship and the potential for accomplishment in a serials career.
Paul Evan Peters Scholarship
The Paul Evan Peters Scholarship was established to honor and perpetuate the memory of Paul Evan Peters (1947-1996), founding executive director of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI). The fellowship will assist students pursuing graduate studies in the information sciences, librarianship, or closely related field, that advance the frontiers of digital information and technology.
PMI Educational Foundation Scholarships
PMI Educational Foundation’s Scholarships and Awards Program supports development of the best and brightest future project management professionals worldwide through learning opportunities. The scholarship program was established to assist students in obtaining degrees from accredited institutions of high learning in the field of project management or a project management related field.
Society for American Archivists Scholarships
Awards provided for outstanding contribution to the archives profession. The awards are given for work produced (publications, advocacy, new method of search, etc.) rather then straight scholarship funding.
Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Paul and Daisy Soros, Hungarian immigrants and American philanthropists, established their fellowship program for New Americans in December 1997 with a charitable trust of fifty million dollars.
Theatre Library Association
TLA awards a scholarship each year to acknowledge outstanding professional accomplishments of promising students currently enrolled in MLIS or archival training programs specializing in performing arts librarianship.
Washington Library Association (WLA) Scholarships
The Washington Library Association awards a number of scholarships annually to WLA members.
