2027 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/legal-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal studies students.
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2027 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice the best value for a degree in legal studies in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $32,649. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Baltimore came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value legal studies schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Students borrow a median of $29,681 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $56,837. That is a strong return on a $29,681 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,777, while out-of-state students pay about $27,708. Students borrow a median of $24,014 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $48,545. That is a strong return on a $24,014 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mercy College earned it the #4 place for legal studies. Set in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,880 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete the legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $38,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #5 makes William Paterson University Of New Jersey one of the best values for legal studies. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,644 in student loans. Legal Studies graduates of William Paterson University Of New Jersey earn a median of $30,326 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. William Paterson University Of New Jersey admits about 90% of applicants.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #6 position for value in legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Students borrow a median of $23,689 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $23,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University At Buffalo landed the #7 spot for legal studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College came in at #8 for value in legal studies this year. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $31,017 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $54,304. Set against $31,017 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned the #9 position for value in legal studies this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $37,500. Legal Studies graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $53,237 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $37,500 median debt. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value legal studies schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $16,155. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Saint John Fisher College earned the #11 position for value in legal studies this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,190. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $25,086. Legal Studies graduates of Saint John Fisher College earn a median of $55,630 early in their careers. Set against $25,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint John Fisher College admits about 66% of applicants.
St Johns University New York earned the #12 position for value in legal studies this year. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Students borrow a median of $26,030 to complete the legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $29,307. That is a strong return on a $26,030 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Dickinson College placed #13 among the best values for legal studies. Located in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,650. Students borrow a median of $19,014 to complete the legal studies program here. Legal Studies graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,014 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
American University earned the #14 position for value in legal studies this year. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,375 to complete the legal studies program here. Legal Studies graduates of American University earn a median of $45,790 early in their careers. Set against $24,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.