2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the non-professional general legal studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Fresno City College the best value for a degree in non-professional general legal studies in California. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at Oxnard College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
College Of The Canyons came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Pasadena City College one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at Hartnell College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Santa Ana College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Sacramento City College came in at #7 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. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $46,522 early in their careers. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chaffey College came in at #8 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,184, while out-of-state students pay about $11,120. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $23,532. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District placed #9 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,448, compared with $12,728 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $8,770. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $37,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles City College came in at #10 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Los Angeles City College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $10,763. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $83,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #11 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
East Los Angeles College came in at #12 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $33,595. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of California Berkeley landed the #13 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $13,723 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $43,886 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Students borrow a median of $18,416 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $36,941. That is a strong return on a $18,416 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of La Verne ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,470. Students borrow a median of $30,370 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $49,004. That is a strong return on a $30,370 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
[Non-Professional General Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
