2027 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Non-Professional General Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 12 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 Great Lakes Region
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
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #1 spot for value among non-professional general legal studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $24,925. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $53,344 early in their careers. Set against $24,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Ivy Tech Community College one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $22,831 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. 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 Henry Ford Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $18,876 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. 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 Wayne State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $26,689. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $55,469. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Superior came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,812, while out-of-state students pay about $16,726. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $27,845 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Superior generally make around $45,219. Set against $27,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Superior admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #6 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $20,980 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $41,144. That is a strong return on a $20,980 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Michigan State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $24,753 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $33,752. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies earned the #9 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,896 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $36,380. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies earn a median of $45,947 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana Institute Of Technology ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,361. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $36,380. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Indiana Institute Of Technology generally make around $56,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $58,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Norbert College landed the #12 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Located in the suburb of De Pere, Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,580. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $26,578 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Saint Norbert College earn a median of $48,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.