2026 Best Value International Law & Legal Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international law & legal studies schools.
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2026 Best Value International Law & Legal Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the best value for a degree in international law & legal studies in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the international law & legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $175,901. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Johns University New York earned it the #2 place for international law & legal studies. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,521 in student loans. Early-career international law & legal studies graduates make about $74,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Johns University New York admits about 83% of applicants.
Temple University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international law & legal studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $102,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in international law & legal studies will find it at New York University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Early-career international law & legal studies graduates make about $64,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus one of the best values for international law & legal studies. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $24,872 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international law & legal 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%.
Hofstra University earned the #6 position for value in international law & legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete the international law & legal studies program here. Early-career international law & legal studies graduates make about $55,705. Set against $24,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University earned the #7 position for value in international law & legal studies this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $90,624. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Georgetown University came in at #8 for value in international law & legal studies this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $101,347. That is a strong return on a $16,483 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
American University came in at #9 for value in international law & legal studies 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. Typical student debt for international law & legal studies graduates is $24,139. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from American University generally make around $65,919. Set against $24,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.