2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Legal Assistant/Paralegal
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 9,938 people earned their degree in legal assistant/paralegal, making the major the 123rd most popular in the United States.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 4,969 legal assistant/paralegal graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate” ranking analyzed 171 colleges that offered a degree in legal assistant/paralegal. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great legal assistant/paralegal programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the legal assistant/paralegal program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Legal Assistant/Paralegal
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Centro College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. Located in Dallas, Texas, this large public school awarded 82 degrees to qualified associates’s paralegal students in 2019-2020.
El Centro College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend El Centro College is $4,373 for associate degree paralegal students.
Read full report on Legal Assistant/Paralegal at El Centro College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Inver Hills Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate. IHCC is a public institution located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree paralegal students list, IHCC has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Inver Hills Community College is $11,486 for associate degree paralegal students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Hennepin Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 16 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Hennepin Community College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Hennepin Community College is $10,284 for associate degree paralegal students.
Full North Hennepin Community College Legal Assistant/Paralegal Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valencia College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 48 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree paralegal students list, Valencia College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Valencia College is $5,205 for Associate Degree Paralegal students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Houston Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. Houston Community College is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 associates’s paralegal degrees to qualified students.
Houston Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $5,272 for Associate Degree Paralegal students per year to attend Houston Community College.
Read full report on Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Houston Community College
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. FVTC is a fairly large public school situated in Appleton, Wisconsin. It awarded 18 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree paralegal students list, FVTC has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fox Valley Technical College is $11,127 for associate degree paralegal students.
With a ranking of #7, Phoenix College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. Phoenix College is a public institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Phoenix College, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Phoenix College is $8,744 for associate degree paralegal students.
Read more about Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Phoenix College
With a ranking of #8, Seminole State College of Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. Seminole State College of Florida is a public institution located in Sanford, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Seminole State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Seminole State College of Florida is $8,326 for Associate Degree Paralegal students.
Read full report on Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Seminole State College of Florida
Palm Beach State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #9. Palm Beach State College is a large public school situated in Lake Worth, Florida. It awarded 32 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree paralegal students list, Palm Beach State College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Palm Beach State College is $2,651 for Associate Degree Paralegal students.
Read more about Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Palm Beach State College
Metropolitan Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking. Metropolitan Community College is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 associates’s paralegal degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $4,295 for Associate Degree Paralegal students per year to attend MCC.
Indian River State College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking. Indian River State College is a public institution located in Fort Pierce, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree paralegal students list, Indian River State College has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indian River State College is $2,003 for associate degree paralegal students.
Read more about Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Indian River State College
San Jacinto Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #12. San Jacinto College is located in Pasadena, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 associates’s paralegal degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $8,692 for Associate Degree Paralegal students per year to attend San Jacinto Community College.
Read more about Legal Assistant/Paralegal at San Jacinto College
Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #13. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s paralegal degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, MATC also did well on our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for MATC is $9,076 for Associate Degree Paralegal students.
Read full report on Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Saint Louis Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 27 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis Community College is $6,796 for associate degree paralegal students.
Full Saint Louis Community College Legal Assistant/Paralegal Report
Hillsborough Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking. Hillsborough Community College is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 35 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree paralegal students list, HCC has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Hillsborough Community College is $3,238 for associate degree paralegal students.
Manchester Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking. Manchester, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s paralegal degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $7,142 for Associate Degree Paralegal students per year to attend Manchester Community College.
American Public University System did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #16. American Public University System is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 associates’s paralegal degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend American Public University System is $10,222 for associate degree paralegal students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.
Full American Military University Legal Assistant/Paralegal Report
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. Northern Virginia Community College is a large public school situated in Annandale, Virginia. It awarded 33 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
Northern Virginia Community College also took the #16 spot in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Virginia Community College is $10,005 for associate degree paralegal students.
Read more about Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Northern Virginia Community College
Tarrant County College District ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. Tarrant County College District is a large public school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 34 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Tarrant County College also did well on our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Tarrant County College is $5,434 for Associate Degree Paralegal students.
Read more about Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Tarrant County College
Austin Community College District came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s paralegal degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.
Austin Community College District also made our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $6,861 for Associate Degree Paralegal students per year to attend Austin Community College District.
Read more about Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Austin Community College District
Portland Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking. Portland Community College is a large public school situated in Portland, Oregon. It awarded 52 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
Portland Community College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Portland Community College is $8,914 for associate degree paralegal students.
Full Portland Community College Legal Assistant/Paralegal Report
Reynolds Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking. Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s paralegal degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Reynolds Community College is also in the top of our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Reynolds Community College is $5,961 for associate degree paralegal students.
Read full report on Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Reynolds Community College
Lakeshore Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. Located in Cleveland, Wisconsin, this small public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified associates’s paralegal students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for LTC is $10,780 for Associate Degree Paralegal students.
Harrisburg Area Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate ranking. HACC is a fairly large public school situated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 27 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
HACC excels when it comes to paralegal quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $11,990 for associate degree paralegal students per year to attend HACC.
Read full report on Legal Assistant/Paralegal at Harrisburg Area Community College
Oakland Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large school located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan that handed out 22 associates’s paralegal degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $2,825 for associate degree paralegal students.
Full Oakland Community College Legal Assistant/Paralegal Report
Rest of the Best 26 in Best Value Paralegal Schools for an Associate
Not only did these schools make the top 26 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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