[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 178 schools to find the best return on investment for law students.
Where you study law affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Law Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in law in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $72,350. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in law, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for law graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $170,537. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #3 place for law. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $155,825. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great value for students pursuing a degree in law, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $81,794. That is a strong return on a $15,117 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Students looking for strong value in law will find it at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $196,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #6 among the best values for law. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $20,115. Law graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $62,322 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University came in at #7 for value in law this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $162,001. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University earned the #8 position for value in law this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Law graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $64,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago landed the #9 spot for law value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for law graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $199,603. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Florida State University came in at #10 for value in law this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Typical student debt for law graduates is $20,488. Early-career law graduates make about $62,854. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #11 for value in law this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $20,778. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $84,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #12 for value in law this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $16,481. Early-career law graduates make about $81,079. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #13 position for value in law this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Law graduates carry a median of $23,146 in student loans. Law graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $64,496 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Davis placed #14 among the best values for law. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $85,816. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Georgia placed #15 among the best values for law. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for law graduates is $21,792. Early-career law graduates make about $76,702. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value law schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Typical student debt for law graduates is $16,539. Early-career law graduates make about $93,534. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Arizona State University came in at #17 for value in law this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Law graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $72,119. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Houston ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value law schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Law graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Law graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $88,163 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #19 among the best values for law. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Students borrow a median of $21,181 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $76,561. Set against $21,181 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of North Texas At Dallas came in at #20 for value in law this year. Located in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,595, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University earned the #21 position for value in law this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Law graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $70,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #22 for value in law this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Law graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans. Law graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $63,257 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,138 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Vanderbilt University placed #23 among the best values for law. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical student debt for law graduates is $13,975. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $156,307. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #24 position for value in law this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $22,444. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $61,201. That is a strong return on a $22,444 median debt. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #25 for value in law this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for law graduates is $23,741. Early-career law graduates make about $60,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Law Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s law value ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 178 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 178 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
