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2027 Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools

107 Colleges in the United States
9,998 Legal Research Degrees Awarded
$71,053 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 107 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for legal research students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

See the highest-ranked legal research schools offering a master’s degree below.

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 school for legal research. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 495 legal research degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Georgetown University earn around $130,394 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Get the full legal research details for Georgetown University

2
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

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. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 514 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree. See the full legal research program report for New York University

3
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal research, ranking #3. 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%. About 180 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree. Get the full legal research details for University Of Pennsylvania

4

Students looking for a strong legal research program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #4. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 312 legal research degrees 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. Get the full legal research details for University Of California Berkeley

5

Cornell University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 199 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005. See the full legal research program report for Cornell University

6

University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #6 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. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 54 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $69,126 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree. Get the full legal research details for University Of Virginia Main Campus

7

University Of Chicago ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 85 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. See the full legal research program report for University Of Chicago

8
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 175 legal research degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Legal Research graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal research from Harvard University

9
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University landed the #9 spot for legal research this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 80 legal research degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at Stanford University

10
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University placed #10 among the best legal research schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 121 legal research degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $213,539. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. See the full legal research program report for Duke University

11
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University came in at #11 for legal research this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 48 legal research degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,601. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at Villanova University

12

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #12 among the best legal research schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 104 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. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

13

Northwestern University landed the #13 spot for legal research this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 247 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Northwestern University earn around $129,670 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. See the full legal research program report for Northwestern University

14

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #14 among the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 25 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor 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. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

15
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University landed the #15 spot for legal research this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Boston University awarded about 221 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of Boston University earn a median of $113,679 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at Boston University

16

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 179 legal research degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $60,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,266 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in legal research from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

17

Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #17 position for legal research this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. 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. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal research from Illinois Institute Of Technology

18

Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #18 spot for legal research this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 358 legal research degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $130,948 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree. See the full legal research program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York

19
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University earned the #19 position for legal research this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975. More information about a degree in legal research from Vanderbilt University

20

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #20 among the best legal research schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $56,395. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree. Get the full legal research details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

21

Texas A And M University College Station landed the #21 spot for legal research this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 920 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $102,721 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at Texas A And M University College Station

22

The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best legal research schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 26 legal research degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $57,819 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. See the full legal research program report for The University Of Texas At Austin

23
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida placed #23 among the best legal research schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 82 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of Florida earn around $106,227 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree. Get the full legal research details for University Of Florida

24

University Of California Davis earned the #24 position for legal research this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $53,749 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,404. More information about a degree in legal research from University Of California Davis

25

University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #25 spot for legal research this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students 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. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in legal research from University Of Wisconsin Madison

These schools also placed among the best for legal research this year:

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Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
28
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT
29
Seton Hall University crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ
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Seattle University crest
Seattle University
Seattle, WA
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University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
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Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
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Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Legal Research rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Legal Research
Bachelor's Degrees in Legal Research

View All Legal Research Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 107 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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