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2027 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in New York

6 Colleges in the United States
$22,631 Avg Student Debt
$60,112 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2027 Best Value Legal Studies Badge [Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/legal-studies/) 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 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal studies students.

What’s on this page:

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

1

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned the #1 spot for value among legal studies schools in New York. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $9,500. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $32,649. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.

2
Mercy College crest
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, NY

Mercy College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value legal studies schools. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,880. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $29,250. Legal Studies graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $38,579 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,250 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

3

Students looking for strong value in legal studies will find it at Suny At Purchase College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $23,689. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $23,182. Set against $23,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.

4

Students looking for strong value in legal studies will find it at University At Buffalo, which ranked #4. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $52,403. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint John Fisher College earned it the #5 place for legal studies. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,190 in tuition and fees. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,086 in student loans. 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. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.

6

St Johns University New York landed the #6 spot for legal studies value this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. Students borrow a median of $26,030 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $29,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.

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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 · 6 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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