2027 Best Value General Advanced Legal Research/Studies Schools in the Southeast 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 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 Southeast 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
Florida International University tops our 2027 list of the best value general advanced legal research/studies schools in the Southeast Region. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $52,517. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #2 place for general advanced legal research/studies. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $77,520. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #3 place for general advanced legal research/studies. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general advanced legal research/studies will find it at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College, which ranked #4. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. In-state tuition and fees average $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Students borrow a median of $21,348 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $49,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general advanced legal research/studies will find it at Georgia State University, which ranked #5. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $26,091 in student loans. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $51,103 early in their careers. Set against $26,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Stetson University placed #6 among the best values for general advanced legal research/studies. Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of DeLand. Students from in state pay about $57,410 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $25,382. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates of Stetson University earn a median of $38,839 early in their careers. Set against $25,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stetson University admits about 72% of applicants.
Emory University placed #7 among the best values for general advanced legal research/studies. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $19,431 in student loans. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates of Emory University earn a median of $68,090 early in their careers. Set against $19,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
James Madison University landed the #8 spot for general advanced legal research/studies value this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $40,966. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general advanced legal research/studies schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University placed #10 among the best values for general advanced legal research/studies. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $27,414. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $48,834. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Nova Southeastern University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general advanced legal research/studies schools. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. General Advanced Legal Research/studies graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $78,762. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Samford University placed #12 among the best values for general advanced legal research/studies. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,150 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $21,039. Early-career general advanced legal research/studies graduates make about $64,132. That is a strong return on a $21,039 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Miami landed the #13 spot for general advanced legal research/studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the general advanced legal research/studies program here. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $75,849. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #14 position for value in general advanced legal research/studies this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,678. Typical student debt for general advanced legal research/studies graduates is $22,077. Soon after graduation, general advanced legal research/studies degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $53,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.
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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 · 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.