2023 Best Value Colleges for Law (Income $0-$30k) in California
13
Ranked Colleges
4,128
Degrees Awarded
$17,700
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 36,216 people earned their degree in law, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States.
Across California, there were 4,128 law graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered a degree in law. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality law programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the law program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Law Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Law (Income $0-$30k) in California
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Stanford, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 184 degrees to qualified ’s law students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california law students whose families make $0-$30k list, Stanford has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $1,233 for california law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stanford.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Law at Stanford University
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 327 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Law Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,450 for california law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC Berkeley.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Law at UC Berkeley
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 342 ’s law degrees to qualified students.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Law Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,037 for california law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCLA.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UCLA Law Report
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 210 ’s law degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine also took the #10 spot in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $6,540 for california law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Law at University of California - Irvine
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s law degrees to 201 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,006 for California Law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Davis.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Law at UC Davis
University of Southern California came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 193 ’s law degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $17,287 for California Law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USC.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full University of Southern California Law Report
Santa Clara University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santa Clara, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 217 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Law Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Clara University is $26,428 for california law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Law at Santa Clara University
University of San Diego landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 227 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USD, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of San Diego is $21,951 for california law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Law at USD
Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Stockton, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s law degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Humphreys University, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses is $10,111 for california law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read full report on Law at Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses
University of the Pacific landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of the Pacific is located in Stockton, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 180 ’s law degrees to qualified students.
Pacific also took the #12 spot in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $22,792 for California Law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of the Pacific.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Law at Pacific
University of La Verne ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. La Verne, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s law degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at ULV, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $28,256 for california law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ULV.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Law at ULV
With a ranking of #12, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 305 ’s law degrees in 2020-2021.
Loyola Marymount also took the #6 spot in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $32,730 for California Law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Loyola Marymount University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Law at Loyola Marymount University
With a ranking of #13, Chapman University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Orange, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s law degrees to 145 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california law students whose families make $0-$30k list, Chapman has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Law Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Chapman is $34,946 for California Law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Chapman Law Report
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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