2026 Best Value Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/legal-research-and-advanced-professional-studies-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other legal research & advanced professional studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for other legal research & advanced professional studies students.
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2026 Best Value Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other legal research & advanced professional studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies Schools
For return on investment in other legal research & advanced professional studies, no school beat Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates is $23,146. Early-career other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates make about $64,399. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for other legal research & advanced professional studies. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Early-career other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates make about $55,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland State University earned it the #3 place for other legal research & advanced professional studies. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates is $26,336. Early-career other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates make about $49,648. That is a strong return on a $26,336 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other legal research & advanced professional studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Early-career other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates make about $58,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Chicago one of the best values for other legal research & advanced professional studies. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Northwestern University placed #6 among the best values for other legal research & advanced professional studies. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, other legal research & advanced professional studies degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University came in at #7 for value in other legal research & advanced professional studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates is $25,310. Early-career other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates make about $55,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #8 position for value in other legal research & advanced professional studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other legal research & advanced professional studies graduates is $23,521. Soon after graduation, other legal research & advanced professional studies degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $98,283. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 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.