2027 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
[Legal Assistant/Paralegal](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-support-services/legal-assistant-paralegal/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 235 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal assistant/paralegal students.
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Finding the Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal School for You
The legal assistant/paralegal program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
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We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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2027 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal assistant/paralegal degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
For return on investment in legal assistant/paralegal, no school beat Cerritos College this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $29,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #3 spot this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
El Centro College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #4 spot this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $17,294 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $33,381. Set against $17,294 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Macomb Community College earned it the #5 place for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $38,758. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lewis And Clark Community College placed #6 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $41,313. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #7 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,663 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Students borrow a median of $24,018 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $41,694. That is a strong return on a $24,018 median debt.
St Petersburg College earned the #9 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $32,383. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $43,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,383 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #10 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
Skyline College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
Tarrant County College District landed the #12 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $15,148. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $38,404. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Joliet Junior College landed the #13 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
College Of The Canyons ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College placed #15 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $8,098. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #16 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $39,394. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Irvine Valley College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $11,860. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $6,672. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
West Valley College landed the #18 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $18,876 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $36,247. That is a strong return on a $18,876 median debt.
Miami Dade College earned the #20 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $12,950 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $40,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #21 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College earned the #22 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $44,082. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Johnston Community College placed #24 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $9,490. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $41,278. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College placed #25 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for legal assistant/paralegal this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 235 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 235 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
