2027 Best Value General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[General Advanced Legal Research/Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/advanced-legal-research-studies-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for general advanced legal research/studies students.
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2027 Best Value General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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
Columbia University In The City Of New York tops our 2027 list of the best value general advanced legal research/studies 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. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $175,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for general advanced legal research/studies. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Johns University New York earned it the #3 place for general advanced legal research/studies. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $25,521. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $57,686. That is a strong return on a $25,521 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Washington University earned it the #4 place for general advanced legal research/studies. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $90,624 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general advanced legal research/studies schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,872 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $64,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
New York University came in at #6 for value in general advanced legal research/studies this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $64,516. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University landed the #7 spot for general advanced legal research/studies value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Students borrow a median of $27,978 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $62,692. That is a strong return on a $27,978 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Syracuse University placed #8 among the best values for general advanced legal research/studies. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Set against $26,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Georgetown University came in at #9 for value in general advanced legal research/studies this year. 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. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $101,347. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
American University came in at #10 for value in general advanced legal research/studies this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $24,139. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $65,919. Set against $24,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
