2027 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Southwest Region

[Legal Research](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal research education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value legal research schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Legal Research Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal research degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Research Schools
Arizona State University earned the #1 spot for value among legal research schools in the Southwest Region. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,326. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Houston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $21,255. Early-career legal research graduates make about $57,529. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $68,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Arizona one of the best values for legal research. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $21,861. Legal Research graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $57,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
St Marys University landed the #6 spot for legal research value this year. St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,434. Students borrow a median of $25,040 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from St Marys University generally make around $42,786. That is a strong return on a $25,040 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #7 position for value in legal research this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $20,031. Legal Research graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $102,721 early in their careers. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Southern Methodist University placed #8 among the best values for legal research. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $20,712. Early-career legal research graduates make about $78,515. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value legal research schools. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $49,888. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.