Legal Research degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 119 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best legal research schools.
Where you study legal research matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Legal Research Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Legal Research School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Legal Research Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Legal Research in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the legal research degrees they offer, see the list below.
Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in legal research. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 744 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $101,347. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 514 legal research students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $64,516 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
More information about a degree in legal research from New York University
University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 180 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 313 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $60,003 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
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A rank of #5 makes Loyola Marymount University one of the top schools for legal research. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 61 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $107,961 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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Cornell University came in at #6 for legal research this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 201 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $75,976 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 56 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal research from University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Chicago came in at #8 for legal research this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 85 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Harvard University came in at #9 for legal research this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 179 legal research degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Stanford University landed the #10 spot for legal research this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 81 legal research degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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Duke University came in at #11 for legal research this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 124 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $213,539 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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Villanova University earned the #12 position for legal research this year. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Villanova University awarded about 68 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $72,601 early in their careers. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #13 spot for legal research this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 107 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $57,461 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
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Northwestern University placed #14 among the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 259 legal research degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $129,670. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 26 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
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Boston University earned the #16 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 221 legal research degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $113,679 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #17 for legal research this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 216 legal research degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $60,523. Typical student debt for the program is $25,266.
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Texas A And M University College Station earned the #18 position for legal research this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,214 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $102,721 in their early career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #19 among the best legal research schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 360 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $175,901 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #20 position for legal research this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 153 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree.
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Vanderbilt University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 31 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #22 position for legal research this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. About 42 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #23 position for legal research this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 legal research students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 82 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $106,227. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis earned the #25 position for legal research this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 44 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of California Davis earn around $53,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Legal Research Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s legal research ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 119 schools evaluated.
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).
