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2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California

17 Ranked Colleges
1,837 Degrees Awarded
$30,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master's in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 61,993 people earned their degree in legal professions, making the major the 17th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, legal professions graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,199 and had an average of $58,026 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 8,704 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $51,471 and $91,716 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,837 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in legal professions. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great legal professions programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the legal professions program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California.

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 208 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal professions students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Legal Professions Report

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 331 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley Legal Professions Report

#3

Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Golden Gate University - San Francisco. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. Golden Gate University - San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Golden Gate University - San Francisco also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Golden Gate University - San Francisco are $19,705, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at Golden Gate University - San Francisco

#4

Trinity Law School

Santa Ana, California
#15 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Trinity Law School landed the #4 spot on the list. Trinity Law School is located in Santa Ana, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 91 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree legal professions students list, Trinity Law School has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity Law School are $13,650.

Full Trinity Law School Legal Professions Report

#5

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

San Diego, California
#17 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Thomas Jefferson School of Law. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California. Thomas Jefferson School of Law is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 19 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Thomas Jefferson School of Law also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Thomas Jefferson School of Law are $1,620, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Thomas Jefferson School of Law

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 47 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree legal professions students list, UC Irvine has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at UC Irvine

#12 in overall quality

University of California - Davis ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s legal professions degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at University of California - Davis

#8

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#10 in overall quality

Loyola Marymount University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Marymount also took the #10 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount University are $19,756.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Loyola Marymount

#9

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
#8 in overall quality

Santa Clara University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. Santa Clara, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal professions degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SCU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SCU are $23,507, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Santa Clara University

#10

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. USFCA is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 masters’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

USFCA also took the #6 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of San Francisco

#11

University of San Diego

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

University of San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #11. USD is a medium-sized school located in San Diego, California that handed out 40 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

USD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USD are $28,410.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of San Diego

#16 in overall quality

The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law at Ventura ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. Ventura, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal professions degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

Ventura College of Law also took the #16 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.

Full Ventura College of Law Legal Professions Report

#13

California Western School of Law

San Diego, California
#14 in overall quality

California Western School of Law ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal professions degrees to 109 students in 2019-2020.

California Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California Western are $32,590.

Read full report on Legal Professions at California Western School of Law

#14

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 521 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Southern California

#15

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of the Pacific did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California list. Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Stockton, California. It awarded 14 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree legal professions students list, Pacific has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Pacific are $49,374, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at Pacific

#13 in overall quality

University of California - Hastings College of Law came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. UC Hastings is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 23 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Hastings not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Hastings College of Law are $53,772, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Hastings College of Law Legal Professions Report

#17

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

Stanford University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 82 masters’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree legal professions students list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Stanford Legal Professions Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to The wub.

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