College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2027 Best Legal Research Schools in the Great Lakes Region

18 Colleges in the United States
1,472 Legal Research Degrees Awarded
$68,484 Avg Early-Career Salary

Legal Research programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their legal research programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for legal research students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal research education in the Great Lakes Region.

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Chicago the best school in the country for a degree in legal research. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 85 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $81,002 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. Get the full legal research details for University Of Chicago

2

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 107 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3

Students looking for a strong legal research program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 259 legal research degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Northwestern University earn around $129,670 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at Northwestern University

4

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $66,254 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal research from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

5

A rank of #5 makes Illinois Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for legal research. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students 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. Legal Research graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at Illinois Institute Of Technology

6

University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #6 spot for legal research this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813. More information about a degree in legal research from University Of Wisconsin Madison

7

Case Western Reserve University came in at #7 for legal research this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree. Get the full legal research details for Case Western Reserve University

8

Loyola University Chicago landed the #8 spot for legal research this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 196 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $98,283. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Get the full legal research details for Loyola University Chicago

9

University Of Notre Dame landed the #9 spot for legal research this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 22 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,494. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Notre Dame

10

Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 43 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at Ohio State University Main Campus

11

Indiana University Bloomington placed #11 among the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 50 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at Indiana University Bloomington

12
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #12 position for legal research this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 118 legal research degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Depaul University earn around $55,390 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,340. Get the full legal research details for Depaul University

13

University Of Dayton ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 102 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of Dayton earn around $82,071 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Dayton

14

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #14 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 69 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $64,399 early in their careers. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $23,146 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal research from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

15

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #15 among the best legal research schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

16

University Of Akron Main Campus placed #16 among the best legal research schools. This large public university is located in the city of Akron. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 89 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Akron Main Campus

17

Wayne State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wayne State University awarded about 22 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $55,469. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at Wayne State University

18

Cleveland State University landed the #18 spot for legal research this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cleveland. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Cleveland State University in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $49,648 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,336. Read more about the legal research program at Cleveland State University

Narrow Legal Research Schools by State

View All Legal Research Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options