by our College Data Analytics Team
[Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-support-services/legal-administrative-assistant-secretary/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal administrative assistant/secretary students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal administrative assistant/secretary degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Oxnard College, our #1 best value for legal administrative assistant/secretary in the Far Western Region. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Fresno City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal administrative assistant/secretary, landing the #2 spot this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates is $7,234. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerritos College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal administrative assistant/secretary, landing the #3 spot this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in legal administrative assistant/secretary will find it at Mt San Antonio College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates is $14,353. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,353 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Ana College earned it the #5 place for legal administrative assistant/secretary. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal administrative assistant/secretary degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverside City College earned the #6 position for value in legal administrative assistant/secretary this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates is $8,767. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American River College earned the #7 position for value in legal administrative assistant/secretary this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal administrative assistant/secretary degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butte College earned the #8 position for value in legal administrative assistant/secretary this year. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete the legal administrative assistant/secretary program here. Early-career legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates make about $67,048. That is a strong return on a $13,302 median debt.
Allan Hancock College came in at #9 for value in legal administrative assistant/secretary this year. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,786 ten years out.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #10 spot for legal administrative assistant/secretary value this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Typical student debt for legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates is $14,692. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spokane Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value legal administrative assistant/secretary schools. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal administrative assistant/secretary degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $39,679. Set against $16,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Los Angeles College earned the #12 position for value in legal administrative assistant/secretary this year. Set in the suburb of Culver City, West Los Angeles College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates of West Los Angeles College earn a median of $65,978 early in their careers.
Los Angeles City College earned the #13 position for value in legal administrative assistant/secretary this year. Los Angeles City College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates is $10,763. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates of Los Angeles City College earn a median of $83,699 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Los Angeles College placed #14 among the best values for legal administrative assistant/secretary. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Typical student debt for legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates is $8,180. Early-career legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates make about $33,595. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value legal administrative assistant/secretary schools. Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public school located in the city of Chula Vista. Students from in state pay about $1,344 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,640. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete the legal administrative assistant/secretary program here. Early-career legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates make about $49,358. That is a strong return on a $11,205 median debt.
Edmonds Community College landed the #16 spot for legal administrative assistant/secretary value this year. Set in the suburb of Lynnwood, Edmonds Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,810, compared with $10,875 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,501 to complete the legal administrative assistant/secretary program here. Legal Administrative Assistant/secretary graduates of Edmonds Community College earn a median of $42,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,501 median debt.
Northwest Career College came in at #17 for value in legal administrative assistant/secretary this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, Northwest Career College is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Typical student debt for legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates is $19,875. Soon after graduation, legal administrative assistant/secretary degree recipients from Northwest Career College generally make around $25,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mti College earned the #18 position for value in legal administrative assistant/secretary this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Mti College is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Typical student debt for legal administrative assistant/secretary graduates is $13,758. Soon after graduation, legal administrative assistant/secretary degree recipients from Mti College generally make around $47,535. Set against $13,758 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mti College admits about 63% of applicants.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.