2027 Best Value Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 126 schools to find the best return on investment for legal professions students.
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2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for legal professions in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,669. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $106,085. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for legal professions. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $47,291. Set against $25,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Florida International University one of the best values for legal professions. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,349. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $64,813. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $53,344. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Global earned it the #5 place for legal professions. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $36,418 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $53,392. Set against $36,418 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State University placed #6 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $80,886 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #7 position for value in legal professions this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $170,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #8 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $13,723 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $60,051 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
American Public University System ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $29,337 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $41,908. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #10 among the best values for legal professions. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $21,963 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $63,600. Set against $21,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #11 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $91,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Stanford University earned the #12 position for value in legal professions this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $10,492. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $162,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #13 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,778. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $84,855. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago landed the #14 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $199,603. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Georgia placed #15 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $69,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine earned the #16 position for value in legal professions this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $16,539. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $93,534. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis earned the #17 position for value in legal professions this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $85,816 early in their careers. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Wayne State University earned the #18 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $26,689. 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 Missouri Kansas City landed the #19 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $60,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,383. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $52,027 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,383 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University came in at #21 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $13,975. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $156,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Arizona State University placed #22 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,827. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $75,186. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #24 for value in legal professions this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $77,642 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University landed the #25 spot for legal professions value this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $58,881. That is a strong return on a $23,772 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Legal Professions Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s legal professions value ranking:
Other Legal Professions Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Legal Professions rankings across degree levels:
View All Legal Professions Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 126 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 126 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.
