Information Culture and Data Stewardship

Accreditation

The ALA Accredited logo with "Status:Continued" underneath it

The MLIS program is accredited by the American Library Association

“Assuring quality, innovation, and value in library and information studies education”

 The American Library Association (ALA) accredits master’s programs in library and information studies across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Accreditation is achieved through a review process conducted by an external review panel of practitioners and academics that verifies that the program meets the Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies.

Our MLIS Program: The Data

MLIS Students

Retention Rates, 2019 to 2024

Average Time-to-Degree Rates, 2019 to 2024

Cohort Term/YearAdmitted ApplicantsAccepted AdmissionComplete First Term of Study% of full-time students who graduated in three terms% of part-time students who graduated before or by Dec. 2023
Fall 2019111 (87%)55 (50%)51 (93%)30 (59%)30 + 21 = 51 (100%)
Fall 2020146 (96%)69 (47%)68 (99%)33 (49%)3 + 35 = 68 (98%)
Spring 202133 (94%)19 (58%)18 (95%)6 (31%)6 + 12 = 18 (100%)
Summer 202121 (92%)14 (64%)12 (87%)5 (42%)5 + 5 = 10* (59%)
Fall 202197 (95%)48 (49%)40 (83%)21 (53)21 + 17 = 38* (95%)
Spring 202223 (99%)18 (87%)15 (83%)2 (13%)2 + 7 = 9* (60%)
Summer 20228 (100%)3 (38%)3 (100%)00*
Fall 202292 (97%)41 (45%)38 (93%)19 (50%)19 + 1 = 20* (52%)
Spring 202332 (89%)19 (59%)19 (100%)0First possible term: Spring 2024
Summer 2023No Admissions
Fall 202396 (99%)39 (41%)37 (95%)First possible term: Summer 2024*First possible term: Summer 2024*
Spring 202422 (100%)20 (91%)18 (as of 02/09/24)First possible term: Spring 2025*First possible term: Spring 2025*

*Students from this cohort are still enrolled and are expected to graduate in later terms

Our students pursue their degrees as either full-time or part-time students. About 66% of students are part-time, and 34% are full time students.  Full-time students and part-time students complete their degrees in different lengths of time. Full-time students can complete degree requirements in three terms of study. All students have a four-year statute of limitations to complete the degree.

We are proud that 100% of students who completed their first term study between Fall Term 2014 and Fall Term 2018 graduated. On average, slightly less than half of students complete the MLIS program in three terms; these are full-time students registered for 12 credits in each of three terms. 

Employment of MLIS Graduates after Graduation
Student Graduating MonthNumber of GraduatesEmployment Status After Graduation
December 20229Within 12 months, six are employed; three are unknown*
April 202322Within eight months, nine are employed; two are unknown; one is not seeking employment
August 202327Within four months, 19 are employed; eight are unknown
December 202319Within one month, 13 are employed; 6 are unknown

*Note that 2022 reflects less than a 12-month period and spans the COVID pandemic.

  • For those who graduated between August 2018 and April 2019: 53 of 56 graduates are employed (95%); three are unknown. 
  • For those who graduated between August 2019 and April 2020: 16 of 17 graduates are employed (94%); one is unknown.  
  • For those who graduated between August 2020 and April 2021: 26 of 32 graduates are employed (81%); six are unknown.
  • For those who graduated in August and December of 2021: 47 of 52 are employed (90%); five are unknown.
  • For those who graduated in April 2022: 10 of 13 (77%) are employed; three are unknown. 
  • For those who graduated in August 2022: 25 of 32 are employed and; seven are unknown.  

Graduates from 2019 through 2024 are working in 26 states, from Connecticut to California, and in five countries abroad. 

Countries: People's Republic of China and Hong Kong (PRC), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America

States within the U.S.: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

  • Public Libraries: 31.2%
  • Academic Institutions: 25.7%
  • Business/Industry: 11%
  • Archives, Museums, and Non-governmental Institutions: 10.1%
  • Elementary and Secondary Schools: 10.1%
  • Government Institutions: 8.6%
  • Health Sciences: 3.7%

Academic Institutions
  • Adams State University
  • American University of Beirut
  • Barco Law Library, University of Pittsburgh
  • Binghampton University (NY)
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Chatham University
  • Cornell University (NY)
  • Duquesne University
  • East Carolina University (NC)
  • Gordon College (MA)
  • Harvard University (MA)
  • Hoover Institution, Stanford (CA)
  • Iowa State University (IA)
  • New York University (NY)
  • Northern Wyoming Community College (WY)
  • Penn State University
  • Point Park University
  • Princeton University (NJ)
  • Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
  • SUNY Polytechnic Institute (NY)
  • University of Alabama (AL)
  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro (NC)
  • University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus
  • University of Pittsburgh, Bradford Campus
  • University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System
  • West Virginia University (WV)
  • Wright State University (OH)
  • Yale University (CT)
Archives/Museums/Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Andy Warhol Museum
  • Catholic Diocese of Cleveland (OH)
  • Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
  • The Frick Museum
  • The History Factory (VA)
  • Miccosukee Tribe in Florida (FL)
  • Naval History & Heritage Command (VA)
  • Old Economy Village
  • Pittsburgh History and Landmarks
  • Rye Historical Society (NY)
  • Senator John Heinz Regional History Center
Business/Industry
  • Barnes and Noble, Inc. (DE)
  • Captain’s Vintage
  • Chime (CA)
  • Cognizant (IA)
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • HCL Technologies
  • IBM China
  • Phillips (NY)
  • PPG Industries
  • SAE International
  • Simon & Schuster (NY)
  • Stepoe & Johnson PLLC
Government Institutions (Local, State, Federal)
  • Borough of Wilkinsburg
  • City of Pittsburgh
  • City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
  • Library of Congress (DC)
  • National Center for Biotechnology (MD)
  • Naval History and Heritage Command (DC)
  • Pittsburgh Job Corps
  • Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
  • State Historical Society of Missouri (MO)
Health Sciences Institutions
  • National Library of Medicine
  • National Network of Libraries of Medicine
  • Nestlé Health Science
  • UPMC
Public Libraries
  • Ames Public Library (IA)
  • Ann Arbor Public Library (MI)
  • Brooklyn Public Library (NY)
  • Buncombe County Public Library (NC)
  • C.C. Mellors Library, Edgewood
  • Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
  • Cheat River Library System (WV)
  • Chester County Library System
  • Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library (OH)
  • Coatesville Area Public Library
  • Frederick County Public Library (MD)
  • Free Library of Philadelphia
  • Geauga County Library System (OH)
  • Hampton Community Library
  • Haverford Township Free Library
  • Indian Prairie Public Library (IL)
  • King County Library System (WA)
  • Lancaster County Library System
  • LaPorte County Public Library (IN)
  • Library System of Lancaster County
  • Mars Public Library
  • Montgomery County Public Library (MD)
  • Naperville Public Library (IL)
  • New York Public Library (NY)
  • Norwin Public Library
  • Pueblo City County Library System (CO)
  • Sewickley Public Library
  • Shenandoah County Public Library (VA)
  • Upper Dublin Public Library
  • Urbana Regional Library (MD)
  • Wayne County Public Library
  • Westland Area Library (OH)
  • William Jeanes Memorial Library
  • Zelienople Public Library
Elementary and Secondary Schools
  • Charles City County Public Schools (VA)
  • Greenwood School District
  • Falk Laboratory School, University of Pittsburgh
  • Hampton City Schools (VA)
  • Montgomery County Public Schools (MD)
  • Quaker Valley School District
  • Rockwood Area School District
  • School District of Philadelphia
  • Upper Darby Public Schools
  • Virginia Beach Public Schools (VA)
  • York City School District

Academic Institutions
  • Archivist
  • Bibliographic Instruction Librarian
  • Cataloging and Metadata Librarian
  • Curriculum Center Librarian
  • Digital Initiatives and Scholarly Communications Librarian
  • Digital Scholarship Assistant Librarian (tenure-track)
  • Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Assistant
  • Grants and Development Librarian
  • Instruction and Electronic Resources Librarian
  • Humanities Data Librarian
  • Law Librarian
  • Metadata and Access Librarian
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow
  • Preservation and Conservation Librarian
  • Research and Instruction Librarian
  • Special Projects and Communications Manager
  • Technical Services Librarian
Archives, Museums, Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Archivist
  • Assistant Archivist
  • Genealogist
  • Process Archivist
  • Project Archivist
  • Archivist, Kennywood Collection
  • August Wilson outreach Curator
Business/Industry
  • Archivist
  • Digital Asset Coordinator
  • Information Specialist
  • Marketing Specialist
  • Metadata Specialist
  • Process Executive
  • Procurement Administrator
  • Technical Librarian
  • Test Engineer
Government Institutions (Local, State, Federal)
  • Annotation Analyst
  • Conservation Technician
  • Crime Analyst
  • Head Librarian
  • Project Archivist
  • Remote Metadata Intern
Health Sciences Institutions
  • Interim Executive Director
  • Intern (competitively selected)
  • Information and Research Services Librarian
  • Medical and Health Sciences Librarian
  • Outreach, Education, and Communications Librarian
  • PubMed Online Content Specialist
Public Libraries
  • Adult Services Librarian
  • Arts and Enrichment Librarian
  • Branch Manager
  • Children’s Services Librarian
  • Data Intern
  • Head, Circulation Services
  • Information Literacy Librarian
  • Public Services Librarian
  • School Liaison Librarian
  • Special Projects Librarian
  • Technical Services Librarian
  • Teen Librarian
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Youth Services Librarian
Elementary and Secondary Schools
  • Elementary School Librarian
  • K-12 School Librarian
  • High School Librarian
  • Teacher Librarian
Self-Employed
  • Conservationist
  • Founding President
  • Free-lance Researcher
  • Project Archivist

Additional Questions?

If you would like any additional information regarding student outcome data, please contact:

Mary Kay Biagini
Department Chair, ICDS
biagini@pitt.edu

Accreditation FAQs

Why is accreditation important to our students and alumni?

Graduating from an ALA-accredited program provides flexibility in the types of libraries and positions you can apply for and enhances career mobility. Many employers require an ALA-accredited master’s degree for professional level positions, and some states require an ALA-accredited degree to work as a professional librarian in public or school libraries.

Is our Master of Library and Information Science degree accredited?

In 2021, the MLIS Program was successfully re-accredited by the ALA for seven years until 2028. The faculty and staff of the School of Computing and Information (SCI) are pleased that our highly ranked MLIS program continues to meet the standards for ALA accreditation and provides students with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary for successful careers as information professionals. Since 1924-25 when ALA first began to accredit programs, the MLIS program at the University of Pittsburgh SCI has been continuously accredited.

What are the roots of the MLIS degree?

The roots of the MLIS program reach back to 1901 when it opened as the Training School for Children’s Librarians at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. This was the first school in the country to educate librarians to work with children and youth, a signature specialization to this day.

Andrew Carnegie was the program’s first benefactor. The program received its first accreditation in 1926 by the Board of Education for Librarianship of the American Library Association when it was part of the then Carnegie Library School. The Program moved from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to Carnegie Tech in 1930 and began offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Library Science and in 1948 moved to offering the Master of Library Science instead. In 1961, the program was transferred to the University of Pittsburgh via an appropriations bill signed by Governor David L. Lawrence. In 2001, the MLIS program became the first degree program to be offered online at the University of Pittsburgh. Since 2017, the MLIS degree has been offered by the Department of Information Culture and Data Stewardship in SCI.