2026 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/legal-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal studies students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in the The Plains States 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
Hamline University earned the #1 spot for value among legal studies schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,004. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $40,059. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Webster University one of the best values for legal studies. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,939 to complete the legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $57,152. Set against $25,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Bellevue University one of the best values for legal studies. Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $37,250 in student loans. Legal Studies graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of $44,839 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Drake University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value legal studies schools. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Set against $22,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
