by our College Data Analytics Team
[Legal Research](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for legal research students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal research, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for legal research in the New England Region. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $16,616. Early-career legal research graduates make about $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in legal research will find it at University Of Southern Maine, which ranked #2. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $23,593 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $47,003. That is a strong return on a $23,593 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Amherst College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,480. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $59,271. Set against $15,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in legal research will find it at Boston University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $113,679. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Connecticut landed the #6 spot for legal research value this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $23,637. Legal Research graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,637 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Western New England University placed #7 among the best values for legal research. Western New England University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,820. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $25,520 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $64,056. That is a strong return on a $25,520 median debt. Western New England University admits about 84% of applicants.
Suffolk University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,550. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $26,670 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $57,261. That is a strong return on a $26,670 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University placed #9 among the best values for legal research. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $25,611. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $74,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Saint Anselm College earned the #10 position for value in legal research this year. Located in the suburb of Manchester, Saint Anselm College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,920. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $26,863. Early-career legal research graduates make about $48,228. Set against $26,863 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.