Best MLIS Schools Near Van Buren, AR (2026)

Updated September 6, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Van Buren, Arkansas has 1 accredited school offering library science programs, with tuition ranging from $7,810 to $21,551 per year for indexed programs. Van Buren has a population of about 23,545. Median household income is $59,420 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, the top-earning library science-related role is Librarian and Media Collections Specialist at a median $62,770 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Library Science Schools to Van Buren

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer library science programs near Van Buren, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Van Buren city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

No school data available.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas library science page.

Library Science Wages Near Van Buren

Van Buren is part of the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area (BLS area code 22900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arkansas statewide.

Occupation Median Wage Source COL-Adjusted (US=100)
Librarian and Media Collections Specialist $62,770 Fort Smith, AR-OK $73,073
Library Technician $26,790 Fort Smith, AR-OK $31,187
Archivist $58,560 AR statewide $68,172
Library Science Teacher, Postsecondary N/A AR statewide –

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Van Buren at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 23,545 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $59,420 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 19.8% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 85.9 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Van Buren-Area Cities With Library Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited library science schools are near Van Buren, AR?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering library science programs near Van Buren. The closest is Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK (47.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Northeastern State University (47.5 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying library science roles near Van Buren?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying library science-related roles near Van Buren are: Librarian and Media Collections Specialist ($62,770), Archivist ($58,560), Library Technician ($26,790). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Fort Smith instead of Van Buren?

Fort Smith, AR is 6.9 miles from Van Buren and has its own set of local library science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Van Buren an affordable place to study library science?

Van Buren’s median household income of $59,420 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Van Buren while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Library Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Van Buren

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Van Buren:

Data verified: September 6, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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