2027 Best Value Law Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) 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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for law students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Law Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in law, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Law Schools
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #1 spot for value among law schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $220,843. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in law will find it at Rutgers University Newark, which ranked #2. Rutgers University Newark is a large public school located in the city of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,250, while out-of-state students pay about $36,762. Typical student debt for law graduates is $25,065. Early-career law graduates make about $54,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University Camden came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value law schools. Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Camden. Students from in state pay about $17,764 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,276. Students borrow a median of $24,577 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $54,504. Set against $24,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Baltimore one of the best values for law. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. Students borrow a median of $29,681 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Baltimore generally make around $62,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Baltimore admits about 79% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in law will find it at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Typical student debt for law graduates is $16,155. Law graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $157,243 early in their careers. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Cornell University earned the #6 position for value in law this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete the law program here. Law graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $213,356 early in their careers. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
University At Buffalo earned the #7 position for value in law this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Law graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $64,220. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Temple University placed #8 among the best values for law. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for law graduates is $26,259. Law graduates of Temple University earn a median of $71,729 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of The District Of Columbia earned the #9 position for value in law this year. Set in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,662, compared with $12,514 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $32,304 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $59,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Widener University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in law this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,730. Students borrow a median of $26,561 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus generally make around $55,829. Set against $26,561 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Catholic University Of America came in at #11 for value in law this year. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,378 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,771 to complete the law program here. Law graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $77,441 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Catholic University Of America admits about 83% of applicants.
St Johns University New York ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value law schools. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,529. Students borrow a median of $25,521 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $82,812. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Johns University New York admits about 83% of applicants.
Touro College came in at #13 for value in law this year. Touro College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,052. Students borrow a median of $20,285 to complete the law program here. Law graduates of Touro College earn a median of $61,293 early in their careers. Set against $20,285 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value law schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Typical student debt for law graduates is $24,958. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $67,318. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Pace University New York earned the #15 position for value in law this year. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,510. Typical student debt for law graduates is $25,656. Law graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $67,469 early in their careers. Set against $25,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Seton Hall University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value law schools. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,170. Typical student debt for law graduates is $23,422. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $70,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Seton Hall University admits about 73% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value law schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Law graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $61,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
George Washington University placed #18 among the best values for law. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for law graduates is $22,910. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $95,225. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
New York University placed #19 among the best values for law. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Law graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Law graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,897 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Hofstra University placed #20 among the best values for law. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for law graduates is $24,848. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $69,677. That is a strong return on a $24,848 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University placed #21 among the best values for law. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,986. Law graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $59,904. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University earned the #22 position for value in law this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $60,051. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Syracuse University earned the #23 position for value in law this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Law graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $67,081. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Georgetown University placed #24 among the best values for law. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,089. Typical student debt for law graduates is $16,483. Early-career law graduates make about $168,995. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
American University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value law schools. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete the law program here. Law graduates of American University earn a median of $73,725 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Law Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for law this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 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.
