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2026 Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in the Far Western Region

7 Colleges in the United States
1,719 Legal Assistant/Paralegal Degrees Awarded
$48,637 Avg Early-Career Salary

Legal Assistant/Paralegal degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 68 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for legal assistant/paralegal students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal assistant/paralegal education in the Far Western Region.

1

University Of San Diego is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in legal assistant/paralegal. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. University Of San Diego awarded about 121 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $50,493. Typical student debt for the program is $20,437. See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for University Of San Diego

2
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA

National University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, ranking #2. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. National University awarded about 39 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $69,080 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree. Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for National University

3
Mti College crest
Mti College
Sacramento, CA

Mti College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Mti College is a mid-sized private for-profit university. About 25 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Mti College in the most recent year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Mti College earn a median of $47,535 early in their careers. Mti College graduates carry a median of $13,758 in student loans. Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for Mti College

4

Fresno City College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, ranking #4. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. About 52 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Fresno City College graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Fresno City College

5

College Of Southern Nevada is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, ranking #5. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. College Of Southern Nevada awarded about 29 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $28,803 in their early career. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $8,506 in student loans. Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for College Of Southern Nevada

6

Edmonds Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Lynnwood, Edmonds Community College is a large public institution. Edmonds Community College awarded about 44 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $42,668 in their early career. Edmonds Community College graduates carry a median of $19,501 in student loans. Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for Edmonds Community College

7

Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #7 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. About 19 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree. Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for Santa Rosa Junior College

8

Portland Community College earned the #8 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Portland. Portland Community College awarded about 51 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Portland Community College earn around $42,463 in the first couple years of their career. Portland Community College graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at Portland Community College

9
College Of The Canyons crest
College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

College Of The Canyons ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. College Of The Canyons awarded about 49 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from College Of The Canyons earn around $51,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree. Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for College Of The Canyons

10
Santa Ana College crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana College came in at #10 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. There were roughly 104 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Santa Ana College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Santa Ana College earn around $39,633 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,196. Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for Santa Ana College

11
De Anza College crest
De Anza College
Cupertino, CA

De Anza College landed the #11 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. About 68 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at De Anza College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree. See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for De Anza College

12

Tacoma Community College earned the #12 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 19 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Tacoma Community College in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Tacoma Community College earn a median of $50,681 early in their careers. Tacoma Community College graduates carry a median of $14,850 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Tacoma Community College

13

Mt San Antonio College placed #13 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. About 60 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $29,569. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $14,353 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Mt San Antonio College

14
West Valley College crest
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA

West Valley College came in at #14 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. West Valley College awarded about 32 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. West Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from West Valley College

15

San Diego Miramar College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 62 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at San Diego Miramar College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $41,038 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,098. Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at San Diego Miramar College

16
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, CA

Chabot College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. About 24 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Chabot College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $85,175 in their early career. Chabot College graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at Chabot College

17
Oxnard College crest
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA

Oxnard College earned the #17 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. There were roughly 40 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Oxnard College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Oxnard College

18

Highline Community College earned the #18 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Des Moines. Highline Community College awarded about 19 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Highline Community College earn a median of $55,459 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,958. Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for Highline Community College

19

Pasadena City College landed the #19 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Pasadena City College awarded about 92 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Pasadena City College graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Pasadena City College

20
American River College crest
American River College
Sacramento, CA

American River College landed the #20 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Sacramento. There were roughly 66 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at American River College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. American River College graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at American River College

21
Cerritos College crest
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA

Cerritos College placed #21 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norwalk. There were roughly 53 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Cerritos College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete this degree. See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Cerritos College

22

Kapiolani Community College came in at #22 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Kapiolani Community College awarded about 20 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Kapiolani Community College earn around $48,210 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,738. More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Kapiolani Community College

23

Irvine Valley College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This large public university is located in the city of Irvine. About 24 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Irvine Valley College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at Irvine Valley College

24

Spokane Community College earned the #24 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 26 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Spokane Community College in the most recent year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $39,679 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,486. See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Spokane Community College

25
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, CA

Fullerton College came in at #25 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. About 37 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Fullerton College in the most recent year. More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Fullerton College

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s legal assistant/paralegal ranking:

26
27
East Los Angeles College crest
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA
28
29
30
31
West Los Angeles College crest
West Los Angeles College
Culver City, CA
32
Coastline Community College crest
Coastline Community College
Fountain Valley, CA
33
34
35
Merritt College crest
Merritt College
Oakland, CA
36
Allan Hancock College crest
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA
37
Chaffey College crest
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
38
39
Los Angeles City College crest
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, CA
40
41
Cuyamaca College crest
Cuyamaca College
El Cajon, CA
42
Victor Valley College crest
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA
43
44
45
Fremont College crest
Fremont College
Cerritos, CA

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 68 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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