2027 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/legal-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value legal studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Northern Kentucky University the best value for a degree in legal studies in the Southeast Region. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,572 to complete the legal studies program here. Legal Studies graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $52,565 early in their careers. Set against $25,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $21,422 in student loans. Legal Studies graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $34,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $11,653. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $34,214. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Public University System came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value legal studies schools. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Students borrow a median of $41,008 to complete the legal studies program here. Legal Studies graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $49,066 early in their careers. Set against $41,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Morehead State University earned it the #5 place for legal studies. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $26,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $28,504. Set against $26,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Vanderbilt University landed the #6 spot for legal studies value this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $13,975. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for legal studies. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $25,750. Legal Studies graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $38,387 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia earned the #8 position for value in legal studies this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $68,359. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
West Virginia University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value legal studies schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $51,750. That is a strong return on a $23,772 median debt. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
Regent University placed #10 among the best values for legal studies. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $50,406. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Auburn University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value legal studies schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $22,803. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Florida National University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for legal studies. Set in the suburb of Hialeah, Florida National University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,368. Students borrow a median of $27,884 to complete the legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Florida National University Main Campus generally make around $45,302. That is a strong return on a $27,884 median debt.
Lipscomb University earned the #13 position for value in legal studies this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,572. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $24,500. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $32,967. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value legal studies schools. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,056. Students borrow a median of $53,949 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $30,149. That is a strong return on a $53,949 median debt. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale admits about 97% of applicants.
Belmont University earned the #15 position for value in legal studies this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $23,447. Legal Studies graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami landed the #16 spot for legal studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $49,624. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
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Notes and References
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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
