2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 150 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal professions degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Lewis And Clark Community College earned the #1 spot for value among legal professions schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $41,313. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #2 place for legal professions. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $39,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College one of the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $33,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Oakland Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,083 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,262. That is a strong return on a $14,083 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Henry Ford Community College one of the best values for legal professions. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Students borrow a median of $18,876 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,247. That is a strong return on a $18,876 median debt.
Harper College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $43,980. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College placed #7 among the best values for legal professions. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,862. Legal Professions graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County landed the #9 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,785. Legal Professions graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $45,094 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College earned the #10 position for value in legal professions this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage placed #12 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,625 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $40,429 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #13 for value in legal professions this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $42,994 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,348 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College placed #14 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $15,990 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $34,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,990 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Springfield landed the #15 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $24,925. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $53,344. That is a strong return on a $24,925 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $38,325. Set against $18,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College placed #17 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College placed #18 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College earned the #19 position for value in legal professions this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,041. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne County Community College District earned the #20 position for value in legal professions this year. Wayne County Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $48,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,525 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $39,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stark State College came in at #22 for value in legal professions this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #23 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $62,322. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #24 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,963 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $63,795 early in their careers. Set against $21,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,137. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $170,537. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Legal Professions Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for legal professions this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 150 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
