2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Non-Professional General Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 54 schools to find the best return on investment for non-professional general legal studies students.
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2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in the Southeast 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
Northern Kentucky University earned the #1 spot for value among non-professional general legal studies schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Students borrow a median of $25,572 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $52,565. Set against $25,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #2. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $21,422. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $34,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes West Virginia University one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $23,772. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $51,750. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
A rank of #4 makes American Public University System one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $41,008. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $49,066. Set against $41,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Morehead State University earned the #6 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $26,230 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $28,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $38,387. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Georgia earned the #8 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $19,500. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $68,359 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Lander University landed the #9 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Located in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, compared with $21,300 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $26,064 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Lander University earn a median of $37,548 early in their careers. Set against $26,064 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
National Park Community College came in at #10 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Located in the suburb of Hot Springs, National Park Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,600, with out-of-state students paying around $7,280. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $14,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from National Park Community College generally make around $42,458. Set against $14,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vanderbilt University came in at #11 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $22,803. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,803 median debt. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Lipscomb University placed #13 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $32,967 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Samford University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,150. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $21,039. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Samford University earn a median of $64,132 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University earned the #15 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $26,656 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $27,637. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Belmont University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Nova Southeastern University placed #17 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $70,595. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,056. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $53,949 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of $30,149 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $53,949 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami earned the #19 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $15,500. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $49,624. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 54 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
