2027 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Master’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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools.
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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
Northern Kentucky University tops our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $25,572. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $52,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Springfield earned it the #2 place for non-professional general legal studies. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,925 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $53,344 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at American Public University System, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $41,008 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $52,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanderbilt University earned it the #4 place for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $13,975. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $19,827 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $42,228. Set against $19,827 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona earned the #6 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
West Virginia University landed the #7 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $23,772. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $51,750 early in their careers. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #8 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $23,659 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $47,456. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Trinity Law School earned the #10 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Trinity Law School is a small private not-for-profit university. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Trinity Law School generally make around $47,750.
Webster University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,939 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Webster University earn a median of $57,152 early in their careers. Set against $25,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
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
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
