2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Law in the Great Lakes Region
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 the Great Lakes Region” 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 25th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, law graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $58,876 and had an average of $112,084 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 4,683 law graduates with average earnings and debt of $61,113 and $111,082 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,683 law graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,428 and $121,375 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 26 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.
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Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region doctor’s degree law students.
Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Law in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Lansing, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 319 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s law students in 2019-2020.
WMU-Cooley Law School not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WMU-Cooley Law School are $11,440.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University Global. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 26 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree law students list, Purdue University Global has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Global are $10,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Loyola University Chicago. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 232 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree law students list, Loyola Chicago has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 26 schools in the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Valparaiso University landed the #4 spot on the list. Valparaiso University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valparaiso, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree law students list, Valpo has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Valpo are $12,220.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 147 degrees to qualified doctorate’s law students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #6, Marquette University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Marquette University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 175 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
Marquette did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Marquette are $21,690, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Capital University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 115 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Capital, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Capital University are $13,000, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Detroit Mercy came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s law degrees to 192 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree law students list, Detroit Mercy has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Detroit Mercy are $20,047, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Northern Illinois University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 80 degrees to qualified doctorate’s law students in 2019-2020.
NIU also made our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086.
DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 233 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
DePaul also took the #14 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Akron Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 152 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Akron Main Campus also took the #24 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 245 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
IUPUI also made our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Law Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 94 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644.
Read more about Law at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
With a ranking of #14, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s law degrees to 157 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree law students list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Cleveland State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 97 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Illinois Institute of Technology came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 223 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s law students in 2019-2020.
Illinois Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Tech are $30,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Michigan State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 226 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Michigan State also made our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Toledo ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 92 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Toledo, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 208 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State also made our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #20, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 102 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Wayne State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 140 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayne State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 332 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.
Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 116 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s law students in 2019-2020.
Case Western also made our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958.
With a ranking of #24, University of Notre Dame did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 201 doctorate’s law degrees to qualified students.
Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Northwestern University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Law Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 278 doctorate’s law degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Law Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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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
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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