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2023 Best Value Colleges for Legal Research (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

15 Ranked Colleges
966 Degrees Awarded
$11,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 6,874 people earned their degree in legal research, making the major the 114th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, legal research graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $66,544 and had an average of $26,000 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 966 legal research graduates with average earnings and debt of $90,143 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in legal research. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent legal research programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the legal research program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 106 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $245 for great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Northwestern University Legal Research Report

2
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s legal research degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.

UChicago also took the #2 spot in our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $2,500 for Great Lakes Region Legal Research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Legal Research at UChicago

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 18 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Legal Research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

4

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s legal research degrees to qualified students.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Legal Research Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 41 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Legal Research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Legal Research at Indiana University - Bloomington

6

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 95 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $7,026 for great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full IUPUI Legal Research Report

7
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

With a ranking of #7, University of Notre Dame did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 7 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Notre Dame is $9,872 for great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full University of Notre Dame Legal Research Report

8

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 12 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Legal Research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Legal Research Report

9

Case Western Reserve University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Case Western is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 85 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Case Western is $16,063 for Great Lakes Region Legal Research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Legal Research at Case Western

10

Illinois Institute of Technology came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 34 diplomas to qualified ’s legal research students in 2020-2021.

Illinois Tech also made our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Tech is $18,515 for great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Illinois Tech Legal Research Report

11

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s legal research degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $15,061 for Great Lakes Region Legal Research students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Legal Research at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

12

University of Toledo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school situated in Toledo, Ohio. It awarded 4 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Toledo also made our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend University of Toledo is $13,803 for Great Lakes Region Legal Research students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Toledo

13
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 252 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Loyola Chicago also made our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola Chicago is $29,263 for Great Lakes Region Legal Research students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Research at Loyola University Chicago

14

Cleveland State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 17 ’s legal research degrees in 2020-2021.

Cleveland State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Cleveland State University is $13,272 for great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Legal Research at Cleveland State University

15
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s legal research degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.

DePaul also made our “Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul is $27,123 for great lakes region legal research students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full DePaul Legal Research Report

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