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2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k

32 Ranked Colleges
186 Degrees Awarded
$39,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Legal Research is the 89th most popular major in the country with 9,738 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, legal research graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,635 and had an average of $65,122 in loans still to pay off.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 186 legal research graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in legal research. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality legal research programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k.

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s legal research degrees to qualified students.

Stanford also took the #3 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Stanford Legal Research Report

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 10 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal research students in 2019-2020.

Harvard also took the #2 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Research at Harvard

#3

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s legal research students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Chicago Legal Research Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k. Columbia is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s legal research degrees to qualified students.

Columbia also took the #8 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194.

Read more about Legal Research at Columbia

#5

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s legal research degrees to qualified students.

WUSTL also took the #6 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562.

Full Washington University in St Louis Legal Research Report

#5 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal research students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Full U-M Legal Research Report

#7

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#13 in overall quality

University of Florida ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. UF is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UF also made our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Florida

#8

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#7 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s legal research degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree legal research students whose families make $30-$48k list, University of Virginia has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia are $32,394, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Virginia

#9

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia
#1 in overall quality

Georgetown University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s legal research degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Georgetown also made our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Research at Georgetown University

#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s legal research degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #17 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Legal Research Report

#11

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Wake Forest University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 4 doctorate’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Wake Forest University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wake Forest University are $39,216.

Read full report on Legal Research at Wake Forest University

#12

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s legal research degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Research at Notre Dame

#13

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#10 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s legal research degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of California - Berkeley

#14

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 1 doctorate’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #12 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of California - Los Angeles

#15

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 8 doctorate’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Legal Research Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 3 doctorate’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013.

Read more about Legal Research at IUPUI

#17

George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia
#11 in overall quality

George Washington University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. GWU is a large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 2 doctorate’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

GWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at George Washington University are $31,824.

Read full report on Legal Research at George Washington University

#9 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Case Western is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 16 doctorate’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree legal research students whose families make $30-$48k list, Case Western has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western Reserve University are $47,958, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Research at Case Western Reserve University

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s legal research students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree legal research students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNL has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Legal Research Report

#20

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s legal research degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Arizona

#21

Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Tulane University of Louisiana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal research students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree legal research students whose families make $30-$48k list, Tulane has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tulane are $61,176, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Tulane University of Louisiana Legal Research Report

#22

University of Connecticut

Storrs, Connecticut
#16 in overall quality

University of Connecticut ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCONN is a public institution located in Storrs, Connecticut. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCONN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCONN are $41,576, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Research at UCONN

#23

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York
#18 in overall quality

University at Buffalo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. University at Buffalo is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University at Buffalo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Legal Research Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Research at University at Buffalo

#24

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Research at University of Iowa

#25

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s legal research degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Kansas

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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