2027 Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Illinois
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 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:
Best Schools for Legal Assistant/Paralegal in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the legal assistant/paralegal degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Leading the list is Illinois State University, our #1 school for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 18 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete this degree.
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College Of Lake County is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #2 spot this year. 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. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from College Of Lake County earn around $45,094 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong legal assistant/paralegal program will find one at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College, which ranked #3. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 18 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $33,073 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,093.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
A rank of #4 makes Roosevelt University one of the top schools for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Roosevelt University awarded about 22 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. Roosevelt University graduates carry a median of $15,986 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Roosevelt University
Students looking for a strong legal assistant/paralegal program will find one at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #5. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 62 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $48,819 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,000.
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Lewis And Clark Community College placed #6 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 40 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Lewis And Clark Community College
Elgin Community College came in at #7 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. There were roughly 17 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $43,975 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree.
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College Of Dupage came in at #8 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. There were roughly 24 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $40,429 in their early career. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $21,625 in student loans.
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Oakton Community College landed the #9 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This large public university is located in the city of Des Plaines. Oakton Community College awarded about 11 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Typical student debt for the program is $7,750.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Oakton Community College
Joliet Junior College placed #10 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Joliet Junior College awarded about 22 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995.
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Mchenry County College came in at #11 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Mchenry County College awarded about 28 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Mchenry County College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #12 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. About 14 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $36,159 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Moraine Valley Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Moraine Valley Community College awarded about 17 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Moraine Valley Community College earn around $43,844 in the first couple years of their career. Moraine Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans.
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Maccormac College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Maccormac College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 12 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Maccormac College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Maccormac College generally make around $43,061. Maccormac College graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
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More Legal Assistant/Paralegal Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 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.
