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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 94 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value legal professions schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal professions degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked St Petersburg College the best value for a degree in legal professions in the United States. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $35,238. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $43,499. Set against $35,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice one of the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $32,649. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned it the #3 place for legal professions. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,563 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $34,675 early in their careers. Set against $14,563 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny New York City College Of Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Kentucky University earned it the #4 place for legal professions. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $47,291 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,572 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus, which ranked #5. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,168, with out-of-state students paying around $43,404. Students borrow a median of $17,383 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of $39,558 early in their careers. Set against $17,383 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The University Of West Florida placed #6 among the best values for legal professions. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,524. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Purdue University Global landed the #7 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $50,729. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $42,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Central Florida ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,422 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $34,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Clayton State University came in at #9 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Morrow, Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,180, with out-of-state students paying around $16,532. Students borrow a median of $40,792 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,407. Set against $40,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clayton State University admits about 68% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $21,963. Legal Professions graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $64,100 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,963 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
American Public University System landed the #11 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Students borrow a median of $29,337 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $41,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Kentucky University placed #12 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $44,778 early in their careers. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Morehead State University landed the #13 spot for legal professions value this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $26,230. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $28,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #14 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $23,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #15 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $13,723 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $60,051 early in their careers. Set against $13,723 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #16 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $22,777. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $39,824. That is a strong return on a $22,777 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Commerce ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,026, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,375 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $54,201 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,375 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University earned the #18 position for value in legal professions this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $70,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #19 spot for legal professions value this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $17,383 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $52,027. Set against $17,383 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Superior landed the #20 spot for legal professions value this year. University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Superior. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,812, with out-of-state students paying around $16,726. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $27,845 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $45,219. That is a strong return on a $27,845 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Superior admits about 93% of applicants.
Northeastern State University earned the #21 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,810, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $23,465. Legal Professions graduates of Northeastern State University earn a median of $49,353 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern State University admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #22 spot for legal professions value this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $44,587. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University landed the #23 spot for legal professions value this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $156,307. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #24 among the best values for legal professions. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $38,536 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Baltimore came in at #25 for value in legal professions this year. University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $30,104. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Baltimore generally make around $62,419. Set against $30,104 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Baltimore admits about 79% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s legal professions value ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Legal Professions rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 94 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 94 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
