2027 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 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 Middle Atlantic 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
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned the #1 spot for value among non-professional general legal studies schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $9,500. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $32,649. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Baltimore came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $29,681 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $56,837. Set against $29,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Ramapo College Of New Jersey one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Mahwah. Students from in state pay about $16,777 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,708 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,014 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Ramapo College Of New Jersey generally make around $48,545. That is a strong return on a $24,014 median debt. Ramapo College Of New Jersey admits about 71% of applicants.
Mercy College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in non-professional general legal studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,880 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $29,250. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $38,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a great value for students pursuing a degree in non-professional general legal studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,704, with out-of-state students paying around $25,344. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,644 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of William Paterson University Of New Jersey earn a median of $30,326 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. William Paterson University Of New Jersey admits about 90% of applicants.
University At Buffalo ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Purchase College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $23,689 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $23,182. Set against $23,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College came in at #8 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $31,017. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $54,304. That is a strong return on a $31,017 median debt.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned the #9 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356. Students borrow a median of $37,500 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $53,237. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Thomas Jefferson University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,355 in tuition and fees. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $64,243 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Saint John Fisher College came in at #12 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,190. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,086 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Saint John Fisher College generally make around $55,630. Set against $25,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
St Johns University New York placed #13 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,529. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $26,030. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $29,307 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,030 median debt. St Johns University New York admits about 83% of applicants.
Siena College landed the #14 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loudonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,805. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Siena College earn a median of $32,435 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Siena College admits about 69% of applicants.
Dickinson College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,650 in tuition and fees. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $19,014 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,014 median debt. Dickinson College admits about 42% of applicants.
American University placed #16 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $24,375. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from American University generally make around $45,790. Set against $24,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
