by our College Data Analytics Team
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Suffolk County Community College, our #1 best value for legal professions in New York. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $35,667. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $32,649 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Nassau Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $32,464 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Cuny New York City College Of Technology, which ranked #4. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,332, while out-of-state students pay about $15,282. Students borrow a median of $14,563 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $34,675. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,098 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $8,858 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,358. Set against $8,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Erie Community College placed #6 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,894 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $37,069. That is a strong return on a $14,894 median debt.
Monroe Community College came in at #7 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $12,921. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $34,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schenectady County Community College landed the #8 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,190, compared with $8,974 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,902 ten years after entry.
Dutchess Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,670, while out-of-state students pay about $10,670. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,836. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Dutchess Community College generally make around $32,978. Set against $11,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rockland Community College earned the #10 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,862. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Rockland Community College earn a median of $41,799 early in their careers. Set against $11,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Herkimer County Community College placed #11 among the best values for legal professions. Herkimer County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Herkimer. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $16,400 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $31,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mercy College came in at #12 for value in legal professions this year. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. Students from in state pay about $22,880 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Mercy College earn a median of $38,579 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mercy College admits about 86% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton placed #13 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,742 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,769. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $30,708. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $48,269. That is a strong return on a $30,708 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #14 position for value in legal professions this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $175,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Bryant And Stratton College Online ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Orchard Park, Bryant And Stratton College Online is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,274. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,930 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $33,698. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny At Purchase College came in at #16 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,016, with out-of-state students paying around $19,266. Students borrow a median of $23,689 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $23,182. That is a strong return on a $23,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University At Buffalo landed the #17 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $64,220 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Plaza College earned the #18 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Forest Hills, Plaza College is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,450. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Plaza College earn a median of $29,454 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Plaza College admits about 30% of applicants.
Cornell University placed #19 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $15,005. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $213,356. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Saint John Fisher College landed the #20 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,190 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,086 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $55,630. Set against $25,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
St Johns University New York placed #21 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $26,030. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $72,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Touro College earned the #22 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,052. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,285 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Touro College earn a median of $61,293 early in their careers. Set against $20,285 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York landed the #23 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $25,656 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $67,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
Siena College earned the #24 position for value in legal professions this year. Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loudonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,805. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Siena College generally make around $32,435. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University came in at #25 for value in legal professions this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,693 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $74,107. That is a strong return on a $21,693 median debt. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
These schools also delivered strong value for legal professions this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 31 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.