2023 Best Value Colleges for Legal Professions (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
45
Ranked Colleges
8,634
Degrees Awarded
$7,600
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 61,055 people earned their degree in legal professions, making the major the 16th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, legal professions graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $47,649 and had an average of $28,699 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 8,634 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $46,243 and $28,022 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 45 colleges that offered a degree in legal professions. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality legal professions programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the legal professions program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Legal Professions (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 45 schools in the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 515 diplomas to qualified ’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $245 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Northwestern
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 241 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago also took the #2 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $2,500 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Legal Professions at University of Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 381 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
U-M also took the #3 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full U-M Legal Professions Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 405 diplomas to qualified ’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Legal Professions at UW - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oakland Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oakland Community College is a public institution located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $1,464 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland Community College.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Oakland Community College
Cuyahoga Community College District did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
Cuyahoga Community College District also took the #16 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,141 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Cuyahoga Community College District
Lewis and Clark Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Godfrey, Illinois, this small public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified ’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.
Lewis and Clark Community College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,423 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lewis and Clark Community College.
Full Lewis and Clark Community College Legal Professions Report
Sinclair Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 32 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sinclair Community College, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $3,594 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Sinclair Community College
With a ranking of #9, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s legal professions degrees to 202 students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Legal Professions Report
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 29 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $1,736 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College Legal Professions Report
With a ranking of #11, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 157 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
Ivy Tech Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,213 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ivy Tech Community College.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Ivy Tech Community College
With a ranking of #12, University of Notre Dame did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 190 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
Notre Dame also made our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $9,872 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Notre Dame.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Legal Professions at University of Notre Dame
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 398 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IUPUI.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Legal Professions at IUPUI
Southwestern Illinois College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This medium-sized school is located in Belleville, Illinois, and it awarded 23 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for SWIC is $5,484 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Southwestern Illinois College Legal Professions Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 191 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Ohio State
With a ranking of #16, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school awarded 25 degrees to qualified ’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ball State has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Ball State Legal Professions Report
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s legal professions degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.
GVSU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,259 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend GVSU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full GVSU Legal Professions Report
With a ranking of #18, Stark State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Canton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s legal professions degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Stark State College is $5,937 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Stark State College
Madonna University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Madonna is located in Livonia, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
Madonna did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Madonna is $15,673 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Madonna
Central Michigan University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 27 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $10,805 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Central Michigan Legal Professions Report
Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Kent State University at Kent is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 25 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
Kent State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,793 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kent State University at Kent.
Full Kent State Legal Professions Report
Case Western Reserve University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 254 degrees to qualified ’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.
Case Western also took the #7 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,063 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Case Western Reserve University.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Case Western Legal Professions Report
With a ranking of #23, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 260 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois Tech also made our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Illinois Institute of Technology is $18,515 for Great Lakes Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Illinois Tech
Wayne State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 126 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $11,060 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Wayne State
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 223 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,061 for great lakes region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read more about Legal Professions at UC
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