2027 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Virginia

[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for legal assistant/paralegal students.
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2027 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal assistant/paralegal, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
Virginia Western Community College earned the #1 spot for value among legal assistant/paralegal schools in Virginia. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $36,245. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $38,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Tyler Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $11,262. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $36,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $17,427. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $45,915. That is a strong return on a $17,427 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Tidewater Community College one of the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $14,177 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $34,914. Set against $14,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Regent University came in at #6 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Students borrow a median of $37,747 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $36,758. Set against $37,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
National College Salem placed #7 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the suburb of Salem, National College Salem is a small private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,716. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $27,930. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of National College Salem earn a median of $27,900 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Liberty University came in at #8 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $34,076. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $43,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,076 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Richmond came in at #9 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $65,230 in tuition and fees. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $53,815. Set against $21,634 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Richmond admits about 22% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.