2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in New York
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong non-professional general legal studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for non-professional general legal studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in New York
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
Leading the list is Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, our #1 best value for non-professional general legal studies in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $32,649. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at Mercy College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $22,880. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $29,250. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $38,579 early in their careers. Set against $29,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in non-professional general legal studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes St Johns University New York one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $26,030 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $29,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
A rank of #5 makes Saint John Fisher College one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,190. Students borrow a median of $25,086 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $55,630. Set against $25,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Pace University New York placed #6 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,670 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $59,662. Set against $25,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Siena College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,805. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $32,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
More Non-Professional General Legal Studies Rankings
View All Non-Professional General Legal Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
