Post job

Outreach librarian education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an outreach librarian. Outreach librarians usually study library science and administration, library science, or english. 55% of outreach librarians hold a bachelor's degree, and 36% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 66 real outreach librarian resumes to see exactly what outreach librarian education sections show.

The most common colleges for outreach librarians are the Kent State University and the Kent State University.

There are also many online outreach librarian courses to help get the education required to be an outreach librarian.

What education do you need to become an outreach librarian?

What degree do you need to be an outreach librarian?

The most common degree for outreach librarians is bachelor's degree, with 55% of outreach librarians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 36% and master's degree degree at 5%.
  • Bachelor's, 55%
  • Master's, 36%
  • Associate, 5%
  • High School Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an outreach librarian?

You should major in library science and administration to become an outreach librarian. 15% of outreach librarians major in library science and administration. Other common majors for an outreach librarian include library science and english.

Most common colleges for outreach librarians

Outreach librarians often get their degrees at Kent State University, San Jose State University, and University of Pittsburgh. Here are the most common colleges for outreach librarians in the US based on their resumes.
Outreach librarian common collegePercentages
Kent State University12.00%
San Jose State University8.00%
University of Pittsburgh8.00%
University of South Carolina - Columbia8.00%
Western Washington University4.00%

Best majors for outreach librarians

RankMajorPercentages
1Library Science And Administration15.4%
2Library Science13.5%
3English13.5%
4History9.6%
5Fine Arts5.8%

Best colleges for outreach librarians

The best colleges for outreach librarians are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

An outreach librarian with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for outreach librarians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become outreach librarians.

1. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

6. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

8. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

20 best online courses for outreach librarians

Advertising disclosure

1. Java Class Library

coursera

Java Class Library is the fourth and final course in the Core Java Specialization. The Core Java Specialization is part of a series of programming specializations, derived from LearnQuest's private Java Bootcamps, designed to provide the skill set necessary to be hired as an IT developer using Java in many corporate environments. After completing this course, you will be able to write reusable code that remains type-safe using Java Generics, work with collections of objects, work with files,...

2. Advanced Information Literacy

coursera

This course is designed to build upon a learner's search skills and expertise in the information literacy concepts that underpin scholarship at college or university. This badge incentivizes them to continue improving their information literacy competencies over their academic and workplace career. By participating in this course, one can use these advanced search skills to save time conducting literature reviews, efficiently gather and organize information, ethically use sources, and protect...

3. Testing React apps with React Testing Library (RTL)

udemy
4.4
(771)

Learn how to test React components with React Testing Library, the recommended library from Facebook for testing...

4. The React Testing Library Bootcamp - The Developer Guide

udemy
4.7
(314)

Learn how to test your React application with React Test Library and Jest...

5. Basic Information Literacy

coursera

Learn how to begin tackling a big project or presentation. Join today and equip yourself with basic information literacy skills to navigate the vast landscape of knowledge to find just what you need. This course will cover creating a workable project/presentation, understanding the various types of information sources, searching the various types of information sources, recognizing faulty information or bias, using proper citation conventions, avoiding plagiarism, and skimming information to...

6. LINQ Tutorial: Master the Key C# Library

udemy
4.8
(547)

Learn every method from LINQ by practice. Lots of coding exercises! Become fluent in the most useful .NET library...

7. React Testing Library and Jest: The Complete Guide

udemy
4.7
(1,423)

A complete, all-in-one guide to fully testing your React projects using React Testing Library and Jest...

8. Mastering C++ Standard Library Features

udemy
4.3
(438)

Harness the power of the C++ STL and make full use of its components...

9. Testing React with Jest and React Testing Library (RTL)

udemy
4.5
(6,263)

Learn best practices for testing your apps with Jest and React Testing Library. All code written via TDD!...

10. 3D Programming with JavaScript and the Three.js 3D Library

udemy
4.4
(961)

Create 3D computer graphics, using webgl in a cross-browser environment. Learn about 3D Graphical space, and 3D Depth...

11. C++ Working with Files - fstream I/O library

udemy
4.3
(376)

Learn how to easily use the fstream library with the help of expert. Handle file operations without any problems!...

12. VSD - Library characterization and modelling - Part 1

udemy
4.2
(352)

VLSI - The heart of STA, PNR, CTS and Crosstalk...

13. Dependency Injection in C# and.NET with the Autofac Library

udemy
4.4
(1,269)

An in-depth course on Dependency Injection and Inversion of Control...

14. Learn Java Creating Android Games Using the LibGDX library

udemy
4.7
(497)

Become a real games programmer. Create Games Using Java with the Lib GDX Game Development Framework...

15. Linux System Programming Techniques & Concepts

udemy
4.5
(884)

For Developers - Build Linux Programmable Libraries, Makefiles, Memory Management, Compilation & Linking, C Programming...

16. Windows Service Programming, Debugging, Installing in C#.Net

udemy
4.3
(416)

Windows Service Tutorial: How to Create Windows Services in C# .Net/Visual Studio, Windows Service debugging techniques...

17. Testing Next.js Apps with Jest, Testing Library and Cypress

udemy
4.2
(251)

Learn to test a real-world serverless React app with routes, authentication, database and more!...

18. Basics of Python & arcpy , the Python library of ESRI ArcGIS

udemy
4
(945)

Understand the syntax of Python and essentials of arcpy for geoprocessing...

19. Fundamentals of Plastics and Polymers

udemy
4.4
(506)

Polymer chemistry, properties, processing, testing and applications...

20. Applied Python: Building Projects with Python Programming

udemy
4.1
(448)

Learn to apply Python and build many Python Programs using powerful libraries and tools. Build More than 14 Apps...

Top 10 most affordable universities for outreach librarians

The most affordable schools for outreach librarians are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - los angeles, and lehman college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for outreach librarians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for outreach librarians.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

3. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

10. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for outreach librarians

The hardest universities for outreach librarians to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for outreach librarians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for outreach librarians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

8. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

14%

SAT average

1,423

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for outreach librarians

The easiest schools for outreach librarians to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and nyack college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an outreach librarian without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for outreach librarians.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

4. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. Washington Adventist Hospital

Takoma Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

958

7. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

8. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

9. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

10. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,089

Average outreach librarian salary by education level

According to our data, outreach librarians with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $67,772 annually. Outreach librarians with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $61,821.
Outreach librarian education levelOutreach librarian salary
Master's Degree$61,821
Bachelor's Degree$49,845
Doctorate Degree$67,772

Outreach librarian education FAQs

Search for outreach librarian jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse education, training, and library jobs