2027 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in the Southwest 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for non-professional general legal studies students.
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2027 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in the Southwest 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
Central New Mexico Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $34,751. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #2 place for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $23,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at Northeastern State University, which ranked #3. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,810, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $23,465. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $49,353. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #4 place for non-professional general legal studies. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $19,827. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $42,228 early in their careers. Set against $19,827 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $23,138. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $58,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Arizona came in at #6 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #7 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Students borrow a median of $23,659 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $47,456. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #8 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $23,321 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $44,085 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Oklahoma admits about 78% of applicants.
Houston Baptist University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,430. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $25,601. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Houston Baptist University earn a median of $57,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Tarleton State University earned the #10 position for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,302, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $23,222. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Tarleton State University earn a median of $50,532 early in their careers. Set against $23,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tarleton State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $20,031. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $64,891. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
National Paralegal College landed the #12 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, National Paralegal College is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,995. Students borrow a median of $53,118 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $35,764. That is a strong return on a $53,118 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.