2027 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
[Non-Professional General Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong non-professional general legal studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for non-professional general legal studies students.
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2027 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in non-professional general legal studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools
Moorpark College tops our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools in the United States. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $17,075. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at Santa Ana College, which ranked #2. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Canyons earned it the #4 place for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes College Of The Sequoias one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Hartnell College landed the #6 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College came in at #7 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $9,191. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $65,168. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College earned the #9 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $7,234. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #11 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $22,831 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $40,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sacramento City College came in at #12 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Sacramento City College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,180 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $46,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chaffey College came in at #13 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,184, compared with $11,120 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #14 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $11,653. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $34,214. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District came in at #15 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,728. Students borrow a median of $8,770 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $37,488. That is a strong return on a $8,770 median debt.
East Los Angeles College placed #16 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $33,595. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bakersfield College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,430, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $9,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Bakersfield College generally make around $86,312. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Post University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Post University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Waterbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,922. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $32,142 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Post University generally make around $39,838. That is a strong return on a $32,142 median debt.
Florida National University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Hialeah, Florida National University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,368. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $27,884. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $45,302. Set against $27,884 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Non-Professional General Legal Studies Degree Levels
Explore the best-value non-professional general legal studies schools at other degree levels:
View All Non-Professional General Legal Studies Rankings >
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
