2023 Best Value Colleges for Legal Professions (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
24
Ranked Colleges
3,465
Degrees Awarded
$13,600
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States 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 Plains States region, there were 3,465 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,259 and $33,307 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 24 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.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the legal professions program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Legal Professions Schools
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 Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Legal Professions (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s legal professions degrees to 613 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k list, WUSTL has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washington University in St Louis is $1,556 for Plains States Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full WUSTL Legal Professions Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 246 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $7,698 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Des Moines Area Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, this large public school awarded 38 degrees to qualified ’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.
DMACC also made our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $8,177 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Des Moines Area Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Inver Hills Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s legal professions degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
IHCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IHCC is $9,188 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Legal Professions at Inver Hills Community College
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Anoka Technical College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Anoka, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified ’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.
Anoka Technical College also took the #5 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Anoka Technical College is $10,961 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Legal Professions at Anoka Technical College
North Hennepin Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 21 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Hennepin Community College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,626 for Plains States Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Hennepin Community College.
Full North Hennepin Community College Legal Professions Report
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 23 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
MCC also made our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is $6,125 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Legal Professions Report
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 126 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNL has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,672 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Legal Professions at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
With a ranking of #9, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 98 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also took the #16 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,005 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Mizzou Legal Professions Report
With a ranking of #10, Kirkwood Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 25 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kirkwood Community College, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,182 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.
Read more about Legal Professions at Kirkwood Community College
University of Iowa came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 143 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also took the #11 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $13,554 for plains states 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 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Iowa
Hamline University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 115 degrees to qualified ’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.
Hamline also made our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $16,522 for Plains States Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hamline.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Legal Professions at Hamline
Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. MSU Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
MSU Moorhead did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,675 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MSU Moorhead.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Legal Professions at Minnesota State University - Moorhead
With a ranking of #14, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s legal professions degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k list, UND has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UND is $12,394 for Plains States Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 University of North Dakota
Bellevue University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Bellevue, Nebraska. It awarded 102 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
Bellevue University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,383 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bellevue University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Bellevue University
University of Kansas came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 119 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $15,666 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Legal Professions at University of Kansas
With a ranking of #17, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 145 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC also took the #19 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City is $12,724 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Legal Professions Report
Washburn University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 123 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
Washburn University also took the #23 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washburn University is $11,258 for Plains States Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Legal Professions at Washburn University
Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit institution located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - Minnesota is $17,610 for plains states 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%.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Rasmussen University - Minnesota
With a ranking of #20, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. USD is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 62 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
USD also took the #24 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,495 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of South Dakota.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Legal Professions at University of South Dakota
Drake University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Des Moines, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s legal professions degrees to 170 students in 2020-2021.
Drake not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Drake is $25,309 for Plains States Region Legal Professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Drake University
Creighton University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Creighton University is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 105 ’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.
Creighton also took the #13 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Creighton University is $23,398 for plains states region legal professions students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Legal Professions at Creighton
University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UST MN is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 169 ’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.
UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Legal Professions Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UST MN is $32,436 for plains states 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of St Thomas Minnesota 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
- *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
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