2026 Best Value Intellectual Property Law Master’s Degree Schools
[Intellectual Property Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/intellectual-property-law/) 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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for intellectual property law students.
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2026 Best Value Intellectual Property Law Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the intellectual property law degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Intellectual Property Law Schools
Leading the list is Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, our #1 best value for intellectual property law in the United States. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for intellectual property law graduates is $23,146. Intellectual Property Law graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $64,399 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in intellectual property law will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Intellectual Property Law graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Soon after graduation, intellectual property law degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $56,395. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Mason University earned it the #3 place for intellectual property law. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the intellectual property law program here. Early-career intellectual property law graduates make about $63,131. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Illinois Institute Of Technology one of the best values for intellectual property law. 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. Typical student debt for intellectual property law graduates is $26,774. Early-career intellectual property law graduates make about $71,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value intellectual property law schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the intellectual property law program here. Soon after graduation, intellectual property law degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $57,529. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #6 position for value in intellectual property law this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for intellectual property law graduates is $20,031. Early-career intellectual property law graduates make about $102,721. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value intellectual property law schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for intellectual property law graduates is $17,553. Intellectual Property Law graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $59,808 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut came in at #8 for value in intellectual property law this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Intellectual Property Law graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans. Intellectual Property Law graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Set against $23,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Golden Gate University San Francisco ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value intellectual property law schools. Golden Gate University San Francisco is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Students from in state pay about $11,343 in tuition and fees. Intellectual Property Law graduates carry a median of $33,968 in student loans. Intellectual Property Law graduates of Golden Gate University San Francisco earn a median of $106,626 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,968 median debt.
Seton Hall University placed #10 among the best values for intellectual property law. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Intellectual Property Law graduates carry a median of $23,422 in student loans. Intellectual Property Law graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $63,871 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University placed #11 among the best values for intellectual property law. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete the intellectual property law program here. Soon after graduation, intellectual property law degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas M Cooley Law School earned the #12 position for value in intellectual property law this year. Located in the city of Lansing, Thomas M Cooley Law School is a small private not-for-profit university. Early-career intellectual property law graduates make about $60,878.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #13 among the best values for intellectual property law. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,872 to complete the intellectual property law program here. Intellectual Property Law graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $64,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
American University earned the #14 position for value in intellectual property law this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete the intellectual property law program here. Soon after graduation, intellectual property law degree recipients from American University generally make around $65,919. That is a strong return on a $24,139 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value intellectual property law schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for intellectual property law graduates is $25,643. Intellectual Property Law graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $82,764 early in their careers. Set against $25,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Hampshire School Of Law ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value intellectual property law schools. Located in the town of Concord, University Of New Hampshire School Of Law is a small public university. Median earnings reach $66,479 ten years out.
Yeshiva University earned the #17 position for value in intellectual property law this year. Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,800. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the intellectual property law program here. Intellectual Property Law graduates of Yeshiva University earn a median of $46,411 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Other Intellectual Property Law Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Intellectual Property Law rankings across degree levels:
View All Intellectual Property Law Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
