2027 Best Legal Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
Legal Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools to find the best for legal studies students.
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Best Schools for Legal Studies in the United States
These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in legal studies, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Legal Studies
Fresno City College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in legal studies. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. About 19 legal studies degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Legal Studies graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Fresno City College graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans.
Get the full legal studies details for Fresno City College
Students looking for a strong legal studies program will find one at College Of The Canyons, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. About 19 legal studies degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
Read more about the legal studies program at College Of The Canyons
Santa Ana College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best legal studies schools. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. About 10 legal studies degrees were awarded at Santa Ana College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal studies program make about $39,633 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete this degree.
See the full legal studies program report for Santa Ana College
A rank of #4 makes Moorpark College one of the top schools for legal studies. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. About 13 legal studies degrees were awarded at Moorpark College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal studies degree from Moorpark College earn around $105,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
Read more about the legal studies program at Moorpark College
Oxnard College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. Oxnard College awarded about 12 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the legal studies program at Oxnard College
Pasadena City College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best legal studies schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. About 13 legal studies degrees were awarded at Pasadena City College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal studies degree from Pasadena City College earn around $38,841 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal studies program at Pasadena City College
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #7 position for legal studies this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Ivy Tech Community College awarded about 66 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Studies graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $22,831 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal studies from Ivy Tech Community College
East Los Angeles College placed #8 among the best legal studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Monterey Park. There were roughly 49 legal studies students who graduated with this degree at East Los Angeles College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal studies program make about $33,595 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete this degree.
See the full legal studies program report for East Los Angeles College
Hartnell College placed #9 among the best legal studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Salinas. Hartnell College awarded about 19 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal studies degree from Hartnell College earn around $35,080 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
See the full legal studies program report for Hartnell College
College Of The Sequoias landed the #10 spot for legal studies this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. About 14 legal studies degrees were awarded at College Of The Sequoias in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal studies degree from College Of The Sequoias earn around $37,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal studies from College Of The Sequoias
Sacramento City College came in at #11 for legal studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. Sacramento City College awarded about 26 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal studies degree from Sacramento City College earn around $46,522 in the first couple years of their career. Sacramento City College graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans.
Read more about the legal studies program at Sacramento City College
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #12 position for legal studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Stockton. San Joaquin Delta College awarded about 18 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal studies from San Joaquin Delta College
Chaffey College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best legal studies schools. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. Chaffey College awarded about 10 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal studies program make about $23,532 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal studies program at Chaffey College
Bakersfield College placed #14 among the best legal studies schools. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Bakersfield College awarded about 13 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal studies degree from Bakersfield College earn around $86,312 in the first couple years of their career. Bakersfield College graduates carry a median of $9,419 in student loans.
Read more about the legal studies program at Bakersfield College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earned the #15 position for legal studies this year. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College awarded about 24 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal studies degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans.
See the full legal studies program report for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Post University earned the #16 position for legal studies this year. Set in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit institution. About 24% of students finish within six years. Post University awarded about 41 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Studies graduates of Post University earn a median of $39,838 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $32,142 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal studies from Post University
Mt San Jacinto Community College District earned the #17 position for legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public institution. Mt San Jacinto Community College District awarded about 16 legal studies degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Studies graduates of Mt San Jacinto Community College District earn a median of $37,488 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,770 to complete this degree.
See the full legal studies program report for Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Other Legal Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Legal Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Legal Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.
- 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.
