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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Legal Studies

18 Ranked Colleges
373 Degrees Awarded
$28,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master's

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Legal Studies is the 225th most popular major in the country with 3,546 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 373 legal studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in legal studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality legal studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the legal studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

The legal studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s.

#1

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, American Public University System landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 40 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

American Military University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at American Military University are $7,050.

Full American Public University System Legal Studies Report

#2

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Drake University landed the #2 spot on the list. Des Moines, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal studies degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree legal studies students list, Drake has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Drake are $11,932.

Read full report on Legal Studies at Drake

#3

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Webster University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 13 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Webster also took the #9 spot in our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Webster University are $13,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Webster Legal Studies Report

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #4 spot on the list. UIS is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 9 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Studies at University of Illinois at Springfield

#5

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loyola Marymount University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 10 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount also made our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount University are $19,756, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Legal Studies at Loyola Marymount University

#6

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#13 in overall quality

Texas State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s list. Texas State University is a large public school situated in San Marcos, Texas. It awarded 33 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State are $17,040, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas State Legal Studies Report

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 7 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048.

Read full report on Legal Studies at ASU - Tempe

#16 in overall quality

The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law at Ventura did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #8. The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law at Ventura is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ventura, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ventura College of Law also took the #16 spot in our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking.

Read more about Legal Studies at The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law at Ventura

#9

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Northern Kentucky University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s list. NKU is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s legal studies degrees to qualified students.

NKU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NKU are $17,358, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Legal Studies at NKU

#10

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#15 in overall quality

West Virginia University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s ranking. West Virginia University is a large public school situated in Morgantown, West Virginia. It awarded 12 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

WVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at West Virginia University are $26,154.

Read full report on Legal Studies at West Virginia University

#11

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s legal studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056.

Full Michigan State Legal Studies Report

#18 in overall quality

Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #12. Stockton, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal studies degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Humphreys University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Humphreys University are $13,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Humphreys University Legal Studies Report

#13

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

University of Pennsylvania came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 126 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal studies students in 2019-2020.

UPenn also made our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760.

Read more about Legal Studies at University of Pennsylvania

#14

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#10 in overall quality

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #14. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 masters’s legal studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree legal studies students list, University of Arizona has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

Read full report on Legal Studies at University of Arizona

#15

Pace University - New York

New York, New York
#14 in overall quality

Pace University - New York landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 16 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Pace University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Pace University are $33,356.

Full Pace University - New York Legal Studies Report

#16

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Harvard University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal studies degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Harvard also made our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Studies at Harvard University

#17

Catholic University of America

Washington, District of Columbia
#12 in overall quality

Catholic University of America came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s ranking. Catholic University of America is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 1 masters’s legal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree legal studies students list, CUA has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Catholic University of America are $50,340.

Read more about Legal Studies at CUA

#18

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Northwestern University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Legal Studies Schools for a Master’s list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567.

Read more about Legal Studies at Northwestern

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to The wub.

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