by our College Data Analytics Team
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal professions education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 174 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value legal professions schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Moorpark College the best value for a degree in legal professions in the United States. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,075. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lewis And Clark Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. 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, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,602. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Cerritos College one of the best values for legal professions. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #4 spot this year. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $21,036. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $39,517. That is a strong return on a $21,036 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #5 place for legal professions. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $33,381. Set against $17,294 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #6 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $35,314 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
Santa Ana College earned the #7 position for value in legal professions this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. 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.
Macomb Community College placed #8 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $38,758. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,139. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $46,748. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Petersburg College came in at #10 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $29,528 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $43,499 early in their careers. Set against $29,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District came in at #11 for value in legal professions this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $38,404. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Miami Dade College landed the #12 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,950 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $40,782. That is a strong return on a $12,950 median debt.
Oxnard College placed #13 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
College Of The Canyons came in at #14 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skyline College landed the #15 spot for legal professions value this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
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. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. 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 earned the #17 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,995. Legal Professions graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
San Diego Miramar College placed #18 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $8,098. Legal Professions graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Irvine Valley College came in at #19 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,860. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the legal professions program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College earned the #20 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $18,876 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College came in at #21 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $44,082. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College placed #23 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $18,116. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College came in at #25 for value in legal professions this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in legal professions:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Legal Professions rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled 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 · 174 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 174 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.