2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Pennsylvania
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal professions education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
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2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
For return on investment in legal professions, no school beat Lehigh Carbon Community College this year. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,270 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,450 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $39,957 early in their careers. Set against $14,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bucks County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $16,052 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Bucks County Community College earn a median of $37,711 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Philadelphia came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,812. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $37,988. Set against $20,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, which ranked #4. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,975, while out-of-state students pay about $12,472. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $13,337 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $40,240 early in their careers. Set against $13,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northampton County Area Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $18,900. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $35,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Allegheny County placed #6 among the best values for legal professions. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $15,263. Legal Professions graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $47,420 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennsylvania Western University landed the #7 spot for legal professions value this year. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $45,448 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Central Pennsylvania College earned the #8 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Summerdale, Central Pennsylvania College is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $19,854 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $40,957 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Central Pennsylvania College earn a median of $40,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 18%.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #9 among the best values for legal professions. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Students borrow a median of $37,500 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $53,237 early in their careers. Set against $37,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Widener University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,730. Students borrow a median of $26,561 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $55,829. Set against $26,561 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Widener University Main Campus admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $157,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University placed #12 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Temple University earn a median of $102,832 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Institute Of Medical Careers placed #13 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the suburb of Pittsburgh, Institute Of Medical Careers is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $18,889. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $26,365.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #14 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,355. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $32,256. Legal Professions graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $64,243 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,256 median debt. Thomas Jefferson University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #15 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,872 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $64,080. Set against $24,872 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $37,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $61,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Dickinson College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,650. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,014. Legal Professions graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,014 median debt. Dickinson College admits about 42% of applicants.
Duquesne University landed the #18 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,986. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $59,904. That is a strong return on a $26,297 median debt. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
Drexel University came in at #19 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Students borrow a median of $27,978 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $62,682. Set against $27,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Villanova University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $74,646. That is a strong return on a $26,184 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
More Legal Professions Rankings
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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 · 20 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.
