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2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California

21 Ranked Colleges
3,980 Degrees Awarded
$26,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 34,750 people earned their degree in law, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 3,980 law graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,980 law graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in law. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great law programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the law program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California.

Top 22 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Law in California

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #1 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 331 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Law at UC Berkeley

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 312 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCLA Law Report

#3

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

San Diego, California
#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Thomas Jefferson School of Law. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California list. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s law degrees to 108 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree law students list, Thomas Jefferson School of Law has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Thomas Jefferson School of Law are $1,620, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Thomas Jefferson School of Law Law Report

#4

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loyola Marymount University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Loyola Marymount University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 332 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.

Loyola Marymount not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount are $19,756, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Loyola Marymount Law Report

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #5 spot on the list. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s law degrees to 140 students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Law at University of California - Irvine

#10 in overall quality

University of California - Davis landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 151 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #10 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700.

Full UC Davis Law Report

#8

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
#5 in overall quality

Santa Clara University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 207 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.

SCU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Santa Clara University are $23,507, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Law at Santa Clara University

#9

Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Golden Gate University - San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California list. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 131 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree law students list, Golden Gate University - San Francisco has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Golden Gate University - San Francisco are $19,705.

Read more about Law at Golden Gate University - San Francisco

#10

University of La Verne

La Verne, California
#17 in overall quality

University of La Verne came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Located in La Verne, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 76 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s law students in 2019-2020.

ULV also made our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ULV are $14,526.

Read more about Law at ULV

#11

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#7 in overall quality

University of San Francisco ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California list. University of San Francisco is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 126 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710.

Full USFCA Law Report

#12

University of San Diego

San Diego, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California list. San Diego, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s law degrees to 241 students in 2019-2020.

USD also took the #9 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USD are $28,410, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Law at USD

#13

Trinity Law School

Santa Ana, California
#20 in overall quality

Trinity Law School came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Trinity Law School is a small school located in Santa Ana, California that handed out 38 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.

Trinity Law School also made our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity Law School are $13,650, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Law at Trinity Law School

#14

Whittier College

Whittier, California
#18 in overall quality

Whittier College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Whittier College is located in Whittier, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Whittier, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Whittier College are $14,742, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Law at Whittier College

#15

California Western School of Law

San Diego, California
#14 in overall quality

California Western School of Law came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. This small school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 206 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.

California Western did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Western School of Law are $32,590, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Law at California Western

#21 in overall quality

The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law at Ventura came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Ventura College of Law is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ventura, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ventura College of Law, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.

Read full report on Law at The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law at Ventura

#17

Southwestern Law School

Los Angeles, California
#22 in overall quality

Southwestern Law School landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s law degrees to 209 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree law students list, Southwestern Law School has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwestern Law School are $18,530, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Law at Southwestern Law School

#18

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 189 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Law at USC

#23 in overall quality

Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Stockton, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s law degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Humphreys University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Humphreys University - Stockton and Modesto Campuses are $13,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Law at Humphreys University

#19

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#13 in overall quality

University of the Pacific ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Stockton, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s law degrees to 131 students in 2019-2020.

Pacific also made our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific are $49,374, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Law at Pacific

#8 in overall quality

University of California - Hastings College of Law did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #20. UC Hastings is located in San Francisco, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 293 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Hastings, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Hastings College of Law are $53,772, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Hastings College of Law Law Report

#21

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#2 in overall quality

Stanford University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 182 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011.

Full Stanford University Law Report

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

Footnotes

  • *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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