2027 Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Law programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for law students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Law in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall law education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Law
Leading the list is University Of Chicago, our #1 school for law. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 215 law degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the law program make about $199,603 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Chicago
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in law, ranking #2. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 292 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $210,979 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Students looking for a strong law program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 343 law degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Law graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $170,537 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 153 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Law graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $84,855 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
More information about a degree in law from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in law, ranking #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 263 law students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the law program make about $83,184 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
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University Of Notre Dame placed #6 among the best law schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 164 law degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Law graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $103,733 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #7 spot for law this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 277 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $62,322 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete this degree.
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University Of Dayton came in at #8 for law this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. University Of Dayton awarded about 92 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $56,077 early in their careers. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
See the full law program report for University Of Dayton
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best law schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 157 law students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $77,868 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #10 position for law this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 252 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $71,236. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for law this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 230 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $73,249 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,774.
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Indiana University Bloomington ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 164 law students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $75,186 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete this degree.
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Case Western Reserve University earned the #13 position for law this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 143 law degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Graduates of the law program make about $70,183 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,106.
More information about a degree in law from Case Western Reserve University
Michigan State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 220 law degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their law degree from Michigan State University earn around $67,554 in the first couple years of their career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
See the full law program report for Michigan State University
Depaul University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 158 law degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Depaul University earn around $68,344 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete this degree.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 208 law degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Graduates of the law program make about $64,496 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,146.
See the full law program report for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Marquette University placed #17 among the best law schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 174 law students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their law degree from Marquette University earn around $63,027 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,122.
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Wayne State University came in at #18 for law this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 128 law students who graduated with this degree at Wayne State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $70,500. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans.
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Cleveland State University landed the #19 spot for law this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Cleveland State University graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 133 law students who graduated with this degree at Cleveland State University in the most recent data year. Law graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $64,805 early in their careers. Cleveland State University graduates carry a median of $26,336 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #20 among the best law schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 126 law students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the law program make about $60,967 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,530.
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University Of Detroit Mercy earned the #21 position for law this year. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Detroit Mercy awarded about 186 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $63,731 early in their careers. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans.
See the full law program report for University Of Detroit Mercy
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #22 position for law this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. University Of Akron Main Campus awarded about 141 law degrees in the most recent data year. Law graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $57,386 early in their careers. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,347 in student loans.
See the full law program report for University Of Akron Main Campus
Baker College Of Flint landed the #23 spot for law this year. Set in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. About 15 law degrees were awarded at Baker College Of Flint in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Baker College Of Flint generally make around $46,774. Baker College Of Flint graduates carry a median of $30,688 in student loans.
More information about a degree in law from Baker College Of Flint
Ohio Northern University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best law schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Ada. Ohio Northern University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 law students who graduated with this degree at Ohio Northern University in the most recent data year. Law graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $55,402 early in their careers. Ohio Northern University graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans.
More information about a degree in law from Ohio Northern University
Capital University came in at #25 for law this year. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Capital University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 125 law students who graduated with this degree at Capital University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the law program make about $62,010 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,269 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in law from Capital University
Rest of the Top 30 Law Schools
These schools also placed among the best for law this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 30 schools evaluated.
- 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.
