2026 Best Value International Law & Legal Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[International Law & Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international law & legal studies students.
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2026 Best Value International Law & Legal Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international law & legal studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Law & Legal Studies Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among international law & legal studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in international law & legal studies will find it at Depaul University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. International Law & Legal Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international law & legal studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career international law & legal studies graduates make about $98,283. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value international law & legal studies schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Typical student debt for international law & legal studies graduates is $25,106. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $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
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 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.
