M.Sc. in Information - Library and Information Science at Drexel University: Fees, Eligibility, Entry Requirements, Admission Deadlines & Scholarships

Drexel University Master of Science in Information, Library and Information Science is a 45-credit MSI degree in Philadelphia, with full-time on-campus, part-time and online routes. The target full-time route takes about 1.5 years, full tuition is US$45,000 (INR 43.18 Lakhs), and Winter 2027 applications close on 15 October 2026. Drexel expects GPA 3.0 on 4.0, roughly 65% to 70% or CGPA 7.0 to 7.5 for Indian applicants.

The programme suits applicants who want library, archives, metadata, digital curation and information-service training rather than a coding-heavy computing degree. Its strongest fit is a student who can use the required capstone and embedded certificate to build evidence for public, academic, archival or data-stewardship roles.

• The degree is accredited by the American Library Association, so it meets the common credential expectation for many librarian roles in North America.
• Drexel lists no GRE requirement, which lets Indian applicants focus the file on GPA, statement of purpose, recommendations and English scores.
• The curriculum allows one LIS certificate focus, so applicants can shape the degree toward archives, metadata or users and library services.

Also Check: Drexel University Admissions

Drexel MS LIS Fees and Living Costs 2027

Drexel publishes the 2026-2027 tuition rate for MS Information: Library and Information Science at US$1,000 (INR 95,966) per credit. For Winter 2027, that cycle is active because the intake begins inside the 2026-2027 academic year.

Target-cycle fee context: the degree requires 45 quarter credits, and Drexel says full-time master’s students take nine credits per quarter. The full-degree tuition below is calculated from Drexel’s per-credit rate, while the 9-month cost row is Drexel’s official international estimate.

Source: Drexel Central graduate tuition and international cost pages.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$ 1 = INR 95.9664 as of 25 September 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

The official 9-month estimate is helpful for I-20 planning, but full-degree tuition matters more because the programme is longer than one academic year. If an applicant studies full-time across five enrolled quarters, tuition plus five full-time term fees comes to US$46,400 (INR 44.53 Lakhs).

Cost of Living in Philadelphia for MS LIS Students

Drexel’s international cost page gives a combined 9-month budget, so the monthly figures below are calculated averages from that official estimate. The table keeps living expenses and other costs separate because they are not tuition and do not prove visa maintenance by themselves.

A 15-month planning illustration gives a total of US$98,497 (INR 94.52 Lakhs). It uses full tuition, five full-time term fees and 15 months of living plus other costs.

This is a calculated applicant budget, not a university-published full-programme cost. It is still useful because it shows how the degree can approach INR 1 Crore before personal spending choices.

Read More: Cost of Living in USA

Key insight: The official 9-month Drexel budget is US$58,258 (INR 55.91 Lakhs), but the full programme needs a longer funding plan. Treat the I-20 estimate as the first-year anchor and build a 15-month cash plan.

Drexel MS LIS Admission 2027

Drexel MS LIS admission is broad by academic background, but it is not evidence-light. The school expects a bachelor’s degree, GPA 3.0 or equivalent, English proof where required and a complete application before the intake deadline.

On-campus intake context: Drexel lists Fall, Winter and Spring starts for international applicants, while Summer is not available for this route. The university publishes deadline dates without portal cutoff times, so the Philadelphia date controls the submission risk.

Academic Eligibility

The programme does not require a library science or computing bachelor’s degree, which helps Indian applicants from humanities, social science, education or technology backgrounds. However, the application must still prove readiness for graduate information work through grades, writing and recommendations.

English Language Proficiency

SCIS publishes current English scores for master’s applicants and names the new TOEFL scale separately. Indian applicants should use the exact scale shown on the score report and avoid self-converting a post-2026 TOEFL result.

• Applicants with Indian English-medium degrees should still budget time for a test because waiver approval is not automatic.
• A GPA below 3.0 should be addressed through the statement, recommendations and an optional GRE score.
• Library work, archives exposure or information-service projects can make the application more convincing than generic technology claims.

Also Check: Drexel University Courses

Tip for Indian students: The admissions bar is accessible, but GPA 3.0 and English proof are threshold facts. Use the statement to connect prior study with archives, metadata, youth services or digital curation.

Drexel MS LIS Application 2027

The Winter 2027 application strategy is simple: submit a complete file before 15 October 2026, then leave time for visa documents and funding proof. Drexel says applications are not reviewed until all required materials are complete.

Deadline context: Drexel publishes the international applicant date but not a portal cutoff time. Indian applicants should treat 14 October 2026 IST as the practical internal deadline because Philadelphia time controls the university portal.

The highest-risk application item for Indian students is usually documentation timing, not the online form. Drexel warns that mailed or couriered transcripts can take three to four weeks to process, so electronic transcript delivery is safer when the issuing university supports it.

• Write the statement around one clear LIS direction, such as archives, metadata, public librarianship or youth services.
• Ask recommenders to comment on service, writing, organization and independent work rather than generic academic ability.
• Keep a NACES evaluation option ready if Drexel asks for course-by-course verification of an Indian transcript.

Application tip: A complete file by 15 October 2026 is the real target, not just a submitted form. Finish transcripts and recommendations first because Drexel will not review an incomplete application.

Drexel MS LIS Scholarships 2027

Drexel publishes LIS-specific scholarship support, but the largest useful awards are conditional rather than automatic. Indian applicants should separate awards considered during enrollment from discounts that require alumni, association or veteran status.

Current published funding context: SCIS says incoming MSI LIS students can be considered for named scholarships and that some awards require FAFSA. FAFSA-linked need awards may not help most Indian applicants, so merit and association discounts need early verification.

The most relevant route for a first-time Indian applicant is the one-time MSI LIS scholarship, because it is tied to the programme rather than previous Drexel study. The association discounts can still matter, but applicants should confirm eligibility before paying membership fees.

• Ask SCIS whether the MSI LIS scholarship is reviewed at admission, enrollment or after FAFSA-linked assessment.
• Do not subtract a percentage discount from the budget until Drexel confirms that the applicant qualifies.
• Use the 15 October 2026 application date as the funding trigger because late admission leaves less time for scholarship clarification.

Read More: Scholarships in USA for Indian Students

Scholarship reality: The strongest published LIS award is up to US$8,000 (INR 7.68 Lakhs), which helps but does not change the need for a large self-funded plan. Treat every percentage discount as unconfirmed until Drexel confirms eligibility in writing.

Drexel MS LIS Salary 2027

Drexel does not publish a course-specific MS LIS employment report with placement rate or graduate median salary. The strongest official evidence is curriculum-linked career preparation, including the 100-hour capstone, plus external United States labour-market benchmarks.

The programme is professional rather than research-led, so return on investment depends on job location, library segment and scholarship outcome. The cost base is high because the calculated full-time budget can reach US$98,497 (INR 94.52 Lakhs) before personal choices change spending.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational data and Drexel SCIS career pages.

The salary table should not be read as a Drexel placement promise because it is occupational data for the United States market. Indian applicants should compare those gross wages with visa limits, tax withholding, city rent and Drexel’s non-STEM classification.

• The capstone is the main career asset, so applicants should choose a project that creates portfolio evidence in metadata, archives, services or digital curation.
• A scholarship of US$8,000 (INR 7.68 Lakhs) can reduce borrowing pressure, but it does not remove the need for salary-sensitive budgeting.
• The United States route offers standard Optional Practical Training, so students should prepare a job search before the capstone term ends.
• India-return ROI depends on whether the applicant can convert the degree into archives, knowledge management, research data or academic-library roles.

Take-home pay can vary materially after United States federal, state and city taxes. Use an official payroll or tax calculator before comparing any gross salary with loan repayment.

ROI reality: The degree can fit applicants seeking professional library or archives credentials, but the salary evidence is market-level rather than Drexel-specific. The safest ROI case combines a discount, a focused capstone and prior library or information-service experience.

USA Visa for Drexel MS LIS Students 2027

Indian students need the F-1 student visa for the full-time on-campus MS LIS route. Drexel states that visa support is unavailable for fully online or hybrid study.

The main government costs are the visa application fee of US$185 (INR 17,754) and the I-901 SEVIS fee of US$350 (INR 33,588).

• OPT (Optional Practical Training) can allow up to 12 months of work after graduation when the role is directly related to the degree.
• The 24-month STEM OPT extension should not be assumed because Drexel marks this programme as not meeting F-1 STEM requirements.
• H-1B sponsorship has no single public salary threshold, but the employer must satisfy actual or prevailing wage rules.
• F-2 dependants may accompany an F-1 student, but spouse employment is not the planning basis for this budget.

Read More: USA Student Visa Guide

Visa reality: This programme can support an F-1 pathway only through full-time on-campus study. The absence of STEM OPT makes the 12-month OPT window the main post-study work period to plan around.

Drexel MS LIS Ranking 2027

Drexel’s ranking evidence is directly relevant because it names Library and Information Science rather than only the university overall. The ranking should support programme credibility, but it should not replace cost, visa and career-fit checks.

Ranking context: Drexel cites U.S. News & World Report 2025 rankings for the LIS programme and several specialty areas. The strongest signal for this course is the mix of overall LIS rank and digital-information specialties.

The rank is most useful when it matches a student’s chosen certificate or capstone direction. An applicant focused on metadata, digital libraries or archives can connect the ranking evidence with the curriculum more clearly than an applicant seeking general computing roles.

Honest take: The 13th overall LIS ranking strengthens Drexel’s subject credibility, but it does not reduce the funding or OPT risk. Use the ranking as a fit signal, not as a salary assumption.