2026 Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Illinois
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools to find the best for legal assistant/paralegal students.
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Best Schools for Legal Assistant/Paralegal in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal assistant/paralegal education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Illinois State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 14 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Illinois State University earn around $49,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896.
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A rank of #2 makes College Of Lake County one of the top schools for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. College Of Lake County awarded about 34 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $45,094 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong legal assistant/paralegal program will find one at Harper College, which ranked #3. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. About 38 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $43,980. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
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Lewis And Clark Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, ranking #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Godfrey. Lewis And Clark Community College awarded about 37 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,602.
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A rank of #5 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top schools for legal assistant/paralegal. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 53 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $48,819. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $35,000 in student loans.
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Southwestern Illinois College placed #6 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. Southwestern Illinois College awarded about 11 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $42,994. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete this degree.
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Roosevelt University placed #7 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 10 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Roosevelt University earn around $50,101 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,986 to complete this degree.
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Elgin Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Elgin Community College awarded about 13 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Elgin Community College earn around $43,975 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,727.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Elgin Community College
College Of Dupage placed #9 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. College Of Dupage awarded about 21 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $40,429 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,625.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from College Of Dupage
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College awarded about 30 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn a median of $33,073 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,093 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Mchenry County College earned the #11 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. About 18 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Mchenry County College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Mchenry County College earn around $24,177 in the first couple years of their career. Mchenry County College graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Mchenry County College
Maccormac College landed the #12 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Maccormac College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 14 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Maccormac College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Maccormac College generally make around $43,061. Typical student debt for the program is $24,750.
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Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Rockford. About 12 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earn around $35,289 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,834.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College
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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 · 26 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.
