2027 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in New York
[Legal Assistant/Paralegal](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-support-services/legal-assistant-paralegal/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal assistant/paralegal education at a price that pays off.
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 New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal assistant/paralegal, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
For return on investment in legal assistant/paralegal, no school beat Suffolk County Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny New York City College Of Technology one of the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $14,563. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $34,675. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Nassau Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #3 spot this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $32,464. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Laguardia Community College one of the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $8,858. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $36,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Monroe Community College earned it the #5 place for legal assistant/paralegal. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $12,921. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $34,799 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,921 median debt.
Erie Community College came in at #6 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $14,894. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $37,069. That is a strong return on a $14,894 median debt.
Schenectady County Community College landed the #7 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Set in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,190, with out-of-state students paying around $8,974. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,902 ten years after entry.
Dutchess Community College landed the #8 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,670, compared with $10,670 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $11,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Dutchess Community College generally make around $32,978. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rockland Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,862 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Rockland Community College generally make around $41,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Herkimer County Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the town of Herkimer, Herkimer County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776. Students borrow a median of $16,400 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Herkimer County Community College earn a median of $31,468 early in their careers. Set against $16,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bryant And Stratton College Online landed the #11 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Bryant And Stratton College Online is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Orchard Park. In-state tuition and fees average $16,274. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $21,930 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Bryant And Stratton College Online earn a median of $33,698 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton placed #12 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,742 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,769. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $30,708. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $48,269. Set against $30,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Plaza College placed #13 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Set in the city of Forest Hills, Plaza College is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $15,450 in tuition and fees. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Plaza College earn a median of $29,454 early in their careers. Set against $20,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Plaza College admits about 30% of applicants.
Marist College came in at #14 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,620. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Marist College earn a median of $41,431 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 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.
