2027 Best Value General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[General Advanced Legal Research/Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/advanced-legal-research-studies-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general advanced legal research/studies students.
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2027 Best Value General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general advanced legal research/studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis tops our 2027 list of the best value general advanced legal research/studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $23,146. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $64,399. That is a strong return on a $23,146 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for general advanced legal research/studies. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne State University earned it the #3 place for general advanced legal research/studies. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $55,469. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general advanced legal research/studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $20,778. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #5 place for general advanced legal research/studies. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $49,045 early in their careers. Set against $25,347 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago landed the #6 spot for general advanced legal research/studies value this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland State University earned the #7 position for value in general advanced legal research/studies this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $26,336 in student loans. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $49,648 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #8 for value in general advanced legal research/studies this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $20,542. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general advanced legal research/studies schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $21,813. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #10 spot for general advanced legal research/studies value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general advanced legal research/studies schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $58,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #12 spot for general advanced legal research/studies value this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $19,891. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University landed the #13 spot for general advanced legal research/studies value this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $16,616. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $78,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #14 spot for general advanced legal research/studies value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $74,459. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.