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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Legal Professions (Income $30-$48k)

121 Ranked Colleges
10,164 Degrees Awarded
$42,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master's For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 10,164 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 121 colleges that offered a degree in legal professions. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent legal professions programs, but they also cost less that 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.

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 For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k.

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 121 schools in the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #1 spot on the list. Harvard is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 183 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harvard, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Harvard Legal Professions Report

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 82 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Stanford

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 154 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Pennsylvania

#4

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 82 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #7 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Chicago

#5

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 366 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at Northwestern

#5 in overall quality

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 306 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at Columbia University in the City of New York

#7

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#16 in overall quality

University of Florida landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 107 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UF, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Florida Legal Professions Report

#8

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#6 in overall quality

Washington University in St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 306 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #6 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Washington University in St Louis

#9

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#15 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 66 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt University are $50,624, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Vanderbilt Legal Professions Report

#10

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia
#1 in overall quality

Georgetown University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal professions degrees to 663 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree legal professions students whose families make $30-$48k list, Georgetown has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Georgetown Legal Professions Report

#11

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s legal professions degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” 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 Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Full U-M Legal Professions Report

#12

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#17 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 50 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia also took the #17 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia - Main Campus are $32,394.

Full University of Virginia Legal Professions Report

#13

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 331 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of California - Berkeley

#14

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Notre Dame Legal Professions Report

#15

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Wake Forest University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

Wake Forest University excels when it comes to legal professions quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wake Forest University are $39,216, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Wake Forest University

University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 39 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at UW - Madison

#23 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 95 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #23 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#18

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#18 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 208 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal professions students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #18. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Legal Professions Report

#19

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#8 in overall quality

Boston University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Boston U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 240 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston U also took the #8 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Boston University Legal Professions Report

#20

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston College are $31,930, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Professions at Boston College

#21

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#20 in overall quality

Emory University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 79 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal professions students in 2019-2020.

Emory also took the #20 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emory are $44,676, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at Emory

#22

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia

William & Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. This medium-sized school is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and it awarded 37 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at William & Mary are $34,800.

Read more about Legal Professions at William & Mary

#23

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Northeastern University is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at Northeastern

#24

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #24, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 80 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Florida State University

University of California - Irvine landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 47 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at UC Irvine

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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