2026 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in Texas
[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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in Texas
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
The University Of Texas At San Antonio tops our 2026 list of the best value legal studies schools in Texas. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal studies graduates is $21,500. Legal Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $23,017 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Texas State University San Marcos is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $23,659 in student loans. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $47,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in legal studies will find it at Tarleton State University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,302, while out-of-state students pay about $18,142. Students borrow a median of $23,222 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $50,532. That is a strong return on a $23,222 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
