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2027 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region

18 Colleges in the United States
$22,639 Avg Student Debt
$71,806 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2027 Best Value Legal Research Badge [Legal Research](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value legal research schools.

What’s on this page:

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal research, balancing cost against outcomes.

1

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among legal research schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.

2

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $64,399. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.

3

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.

4

Wayne State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $55,469. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Chicago earned it the #5 place for legal research. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $15,854. Legal Research graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

6

University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #6 spot for legal research value this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $25,347. Early-career legal research graduates make about $49,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.

7

Cleveland State University landed the #7 spot for legal research value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Students borrow a median of $26,336 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $49,648. Set against $26,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.

8

Indiana University Bloomington earned the #8 position for value in legal research this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $20,542. Early-career legal research graduates make about $52,123. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.

9

Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in legal research this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $58,088. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.

10

University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #10 spot for legal research value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Legal Research graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.

11

Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #11 for value in legal research this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $71,315. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.

12

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the legal research program here. Legal Research graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.

13

University Of Notre Dame came in at #13 for value in legal research this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $69,494. That is a strong return on a $19,891 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.

14

Northwestern University earned the #14 position for value in legal research this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $129,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.

15

University Of Dayton came in at #15 for value in legal research this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $82,071. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.

16
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #16 position for value in legal research this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete the legal research program here. Legal Research graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,390 early in their careers. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.

17

Loyola University Chicago came in at #17 for value in legal research this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $98,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

18

Case Western Reserve University came in at #18 for value in legal research this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $74,459. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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