2026 Best Legal Research Schools in the The Plains States Region
Legal Research degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their legal research programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for legal research students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Legal Research in the The Plains States Region
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.
Top Schools in Legal Research
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2026 ranking of the best legal research schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 30 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
Read more about the legal research program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $114,376 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
See the full legal research program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Winona State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #3 spot this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Winona State University awarded about 16 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Winona State University earn around $53,109 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,551.
More information about a degree in legal research from Winona State University
Students looking for a strong legal research program will find one at Washington University In St Louis, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 400 legal research degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $59,808 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
Get the full legal research details for Washington University In St Louis
A rank of #5 makes Missouri State University Springfield one of the top schools for legal research. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $46,503 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal research program at Missouri State University Springfield
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. This large public university is located in the city of Duluth. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 17 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $46,572 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $24,624 in student loans.
Read more about the legal research program at University Of Minnesota Duluth
Hamline University came in at #7 for legal research this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 22 legal research degrees were awarded at Hamline University in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $48,679 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,530 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal research details for Hamline University
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 10 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal research from University Of Missouri Kansas City
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #9 spot for legal research this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 30 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $53,750 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal research details for University Of Missouri Columbia
Oglala Lakota College placed #10 among the best legal research schools. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kyle. About 9% of students finish within six years. About 19 legal research degrees were awarded at Oglala Lakota College in the most recent year.
See the full legal research program report for Oglala Lakota College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
