2027 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Illinois
[Legal Assistant/Paralegal](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-support-services/legal-assistant-paralegal/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal assistant/paralegal students.
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2027 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal assistant/paralegal degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
Leading the list is Joliet Junior College, our #1 best value for legal assistant/paralegal in Illinois. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $11,995. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lewis And Clark Community College earned it the #2 place for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moraine Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #3 spot this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
Oakton Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #4 spot this year. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $48,838 early in their careers. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $33,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College came in at #6 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County came in at #8 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $9,785. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $45,094. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $21,625. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $40,429. That is a strong return on a $21,625 median debt.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #10 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $36,159. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University came in at #11 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $21,896. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $49,660. That is a strong return on a $21,896 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Maccormac College came in at #12 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Maccormac College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,700 in tuition and fees. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Maccormac College earn a median of $43,061 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt.
Roosevelt University earned the #13 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Students borrow a median of $15,986 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $50,101 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,986 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $35,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $48,819. That is a strong return on a $35,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- 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.
