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2027 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

20 Colleges in the United States
$23,441 Avg Student Debt
$81,835 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2027 Best Value Legal Research Badge [Legal Research](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal research education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 20 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

For return on investment in legal research, no school beat Columbia University In The City Of New York this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research 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.

2

Cornell University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $75,976. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.

3
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #3 place for legal research. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.

4
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Temple University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $26,259. Early-career legal research graduates make about $102,915. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.

5

A rank of #5 makes Widener University Main Campus one of the best values for legal research. Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chester. In-state tuition and fees average $55,730. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $26,561. Early-career legal research graduates make about $60,864. That is a strong return on a $26,561 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.

6
Seton Hall University crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ

Seton Hall University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,170 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $23,422. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $105,031. Set against $23,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.

7

St Johns University New York landed the #7 spot for legal research value this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Students borrow a median of $25,521 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $74,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.

8

Pace University New York came in at #8 for value in legal research this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,510 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,656 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $59,662. That is a strong return on a $25,656 median debt. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.

9

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in legal research this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $25,266. Early-career legal research graduates make about $60,523. Set against $25,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.

10

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $24,872. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $64,062. That is a strong return on a $24,872 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.

11
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University earned the #11 position for value in legal research 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. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $24,848. Early-career legal research graduates make about $74,178. That is a strong return on a $24,848 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.

12

George Washington University placed #12 among the best values for legal research. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $90,624. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.

13
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University placed #13 among the best values for legal research. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $64,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.

14
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University came in at #14 for value in legal research this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $27,978 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $62,692. Set against $27,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.

15
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University earned the #15 position for value in legal research this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. Legal Research graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.

16
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Legal Research graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $101,347 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.

17
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,771. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $65,919. Set against $24,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.

18
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University landed the #18 spot for legal research value this year. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,776. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $26,184. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,601. That is a strong return on a $26,184 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.

19

Fordham University earned the #19 position for value in legal research this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $82,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.

20
Yeshiva University crest
Yeshiva University
New York, NY

Yeshiva University earned the #20 position for value in legal research this year. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,800. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $20,625. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $46,411. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 20 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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