2027 Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Legal Assistant/Paralegal programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their legal assistant/paralegal programs.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools.
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Best Schools for Legal Assistant/Paralegal in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal assistant/paralegal education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Legal Assistant/Paralegal
No school ranked higher than Illinois State University this year for legal assistant/paralegal. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 18 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $49,660 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the top schools for legal assistant/paralegal. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 89 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $45,549. Students borrow a median of $25,258 to complete this degree.
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Grand Valley State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. Grand Valley State University awarded about 55 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Grand Valley State University earn around $40,778 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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College Of Lake County came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. About 32 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $45,094. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Fox Valley Technical College one of the top schools for legal assistant/paralegal. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. There were roughly 15 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $44,020 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,319.
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City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned the #6 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 18 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn around $33,073 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,093.
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Roosevelt University came in at #7 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roosevelt University graduates 46% of students within six years. Roosevelt University awarded about 22 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $50,101 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,986.
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Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #8 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Milwaukee Area Technical College awarded about 37 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $38,325 in their early career. Milwaukee Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. About 54% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 42 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $44,323 in their early career. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $21,963 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 62 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $48,819 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $35,000 in student loans.
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Lewis And Clark Community College placed #11 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 40 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $41,313 in their early career. Lewis And Clark Community College graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans.
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Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #12 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Cuyahoga Community College District awarded about 30 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $39,394 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,636.
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Kent State University At Kent landed the #13 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 19 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $38,981 in the first couple years of their career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Oakland Community College placed #14 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Oakland Community College awarded about 19 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Oakland Community College earn around $42,262 in the first couple years of their career. Oakland Community College graduates carry a median of $14,083 in student loans.
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Elgin Community College came in at #15 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This large public university is located in the city of Elgin. Elgin Community College awarded about 17 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $43,975 in their early career. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans.
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Macomb Community College came in at #16 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Warren. There were roughly 18 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Macomb Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Macomb Community College earn around $38,758 in the first couple years of their career. Macomb Community College graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans.
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College Of Dupage placed #17 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 24 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $40,429. Students borrow a median of $21,625 to complete this degree.
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Madison Area Technical College landed the #18 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. About 30 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $44,279 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,812.
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University Of Cincinnati Clermont College came in at #19 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public university. About 47 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $39,221 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,017.
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Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #20 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 24 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,016 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,997.
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Oakton Community College landed the #21 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. About 11 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Oakton Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $48,838 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of Toledo came in at #22 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This large public university is located in the city of Toledo. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Toledo awarded about 16 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from University Of Toledo earn around $35,554 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $27,605 in student loans.
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Joliet Junior College came in at #23 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 22 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995.
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Mchenry County College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. There were roughly 28 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Mchenry County College in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Mchenry County College graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #25 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $36,159. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 34 Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 34 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.
