[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 467 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value legal professions schools.
Finding the Best Value Legal Professions School for You
The right legal professions school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Legal Professions Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Legal Professions Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Moorpark College, our #1 best value for legal professions in the United States. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
Cerritos College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Santa Ana College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $39,663. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College landed the #6 spot for legal professions value this year. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $24,018. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $41,694. Set against $24,018 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $17,294 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $33,381. That is a strong return on a $17,294 median debt.
Macomb Community College came in at #8 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $38,758. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #10 for value in legal professions this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $15,148. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $38,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oxnard College came in at #11 for value in legal professions this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Miami Dade College came in at #12 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Students borrow a median of $12,950 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,782. That is a strong return on a $12,950 median debt.
St Petersburg College came in at #13 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $32,383 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $43,499 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College earned the #14 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #15 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suffolk County Community College landed the #16 spot for legal professions value this year. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $35,667. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.
Joliet Junior College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,995. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #18 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $32,649 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
San Diego Miramar College landed the #19 spot for legal professions value this year. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $41,038. That is a strong return on a $8,098 median debt.
College Of The Canyons earned the #20 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Irvine Valley College placed #21 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $6,672. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Valley College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Indian River State College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $44,082 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnston Community College landed the #24 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,490. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $41,278. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias landed the #25 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Legal Professions Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for legal professions this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 467 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 467 ranked schools only.
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).
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
