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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Legal Professions (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

20 Ranked Colleges
1,395 Degrees Awarded
$32,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 61,993 people earned their degree in legal professions, making the major the 17th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, legal professions graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,199 and had an average of $58,026 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 8,513 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,584 and $54,966 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,395 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in legal professions. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great legal professions programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the legal professions program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

The legal professions school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 82 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548.

Read more about Legal Professions at UChicago

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 366 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Full Northwestern Legal Professions Report

#3 in overall quality

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 for a Master’s 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 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Read full report on Legal Professions at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#5

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Notre Dame. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 31 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522.

Read full report on Legal Professions at University of Notre Dame

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#10 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Professions at Indiana University - Bloomington

#7

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

Michigan State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 21 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan State Legal Professions Report

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 24 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#13 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 30 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k list, IUPUI has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at IUPUI

#10

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s legal professions students in 2019-2020.

UIS also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757.

Full UIS Legal Professions Report

#6 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Case Western is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 142 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

Case Western also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western Reserve University are $47,958.

Full Case Western Reserve University Legal Professions Report

#12

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

Wayne State also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215.

Full Wayne State University Legal Professions Report

#9 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 109 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Institute of Technology are $30,695.

Full Illinois Tech Legal Professions Report

#17 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UC is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644.

Read full report on Legal Professions at UC

#15

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#18 in overall quality

University of Toledo came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Toledo has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Toledo

#16

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#20 in overall quality

Cleveland State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 8 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cleveland State University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Cleveland State University

#19 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 8 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Akron Main Campus

#18

Capital University

Columbus, Ohio

Capital University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Capital University is a small school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 1 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Capital did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Capital University are $13,000, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Professions at Capital

#19

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 152 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago also took the #5 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago are $19,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Loyola Chicago

#20

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

DePaul University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 49 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul also took the #11 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full DePaul University Legal Professions Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to The wub.

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