2026 Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in California
Legal Assistant/Paralegal is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 51 schools to find the best for legal assistant/paralegal students.
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Best Schools for Legal Assistant/Paralegal in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal assistant/paralegal education in California.
Top Schools in Legal Assistant/Paralegal
No school ranked higher than University Of San Diego this year for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 121 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $50,493. Students borrow a median of $20,437 to complete this degree.
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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. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from National University earn around $69,080 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,426.
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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. Mti College awarded about 25 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Mti College generally make around $47,535. Students borrow a median of $13,758 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong legal assistant/paralegal program will find one at Fresno City College, which ranked #4. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Fresno City College awarded about 52 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 19 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
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College Of The Canyons ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
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Santa Ana College placed #7 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. Santa Ana College awarded about 104 legal assistant/paralegal degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete this degree.
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De Anza College came in at #8 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This very large public university is 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.
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Mt San Antonio College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 60 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $29,569 early in their careers. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $14,353 in student loans.
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West Valley College placed #10 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saratoga. There were roughly 32 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at West Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Typical student debt for the program is $14,308.
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San Diego Miramar College earned the #11 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. There were roughly 62 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at San Diego Miramar College in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. San Diego Miramar College graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans.
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Chabot College landed the #12 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. About 24 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Chabot College in the most recent year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete this degree.
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Oxnard College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This large public university is located in the city of Oxnard. There were roughly 40 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Oxnard College in the most recent data year.
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Pasadena City College earned the #14 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Pasadena City College awarded about 92 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $38,841 in their early career. Pasadena City College graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans.
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American River College came in at #15 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. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,105.
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Cerritos College landed the #16 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Cerritos College awarded about 53 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Cerritos College earn around $29,495 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete this degree.
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Irvine Valley College earned the #17 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. 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.
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Fullerton College placed #18 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Fullerton College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Fullerton College awarded about 37 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year.
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East Los Angeles College came in at #19 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Monterey Park. East Los Angeles College awarded about 46 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from East Los Angeles College generally make around $33,595. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete this degree.
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Southwestern College Chula Vista placed #20 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. There were roughly 26 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $49,358. Southwestern College Chula Vista graduates carry a median of $11,205 in student loans.
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El Camino Community College District earned the #21 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. El Camino Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of Torrance. About 25 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at El Camino Community College District in the most recent year.
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City College Of San Francisco landed the #22 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 14 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
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West Los Angeles College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. West Los Angeles College is a large public school located in the suburb of Culver City. West Los Angeles College awarded about 73 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of West Los Angeles College earn a median of $65,978 early in their careers.
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Coastline Community College came in at #24 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Fountain Valley, Coastline Community College is a large public university. About 53 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Coastline Community College in the most recent year.
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Riverside City College placed #25 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. There were roughly 15 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Riverside City College in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,767.
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Rest of the Top 35 Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong legal assistant/paralegal education:
More Legal Assistant/Paralegal Rankings
View All Legal Assistant/Paralegal Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 51 schools evaluated.
- 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.
