2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in North Carolina
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal professions education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value legal professions schools.
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2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in North Carolina
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
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #1 spot for value among legal professions schools in North Carolina. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $39,663. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
Johnston Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,756, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $41,278 early in their careers. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Piedmont Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Morganton, Western Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,650 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,794. Students borrow a median of $11,999 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Western Piedmont Community College generally make around $46,883. That is a strong return on a $11,999 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Forsyth Technical Community College earned it the #4 place for legal professions. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,276 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,702 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $38,094. That is a strong return on a $16,702 median debt.
South Piedmont Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #5 spot this year. South Piedmont Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Polkton. In-state tuition and fees average $2,022, while out-of-state students pay about $6,630. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $10,098. Legal Professions graduates of South Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,098 median debt.
Pitt Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,871, compared with $13,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,741. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Pitt Community College generally make around $43,022. That is a strong return on a $19,741 median debt.
Davidson County Community College placed #7 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,980 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,588. Students borrow a median of $16,693 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $35,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wake Technical Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Set against $17,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Carolina Community College landed the #9 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,512, with out-of-state students paying around $8,656. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Coastal Carolina Community College generally make around $37,831. Set against $7,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cape Fear Community College came in at #10 for value in legal professions this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,748, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $12,388. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,889. That is a strong return on a $12,388 median debt.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #11 spot for legal professions value this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $15,117. Legal Professions graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $81,794 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
Guilford Technical Community College placed #12 among the best values for legal professions. Guilford Technical Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Jamestown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,320, while out-of-state students pay about $7,696. Students borrow a median of $20,501 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of $36,124 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Carolina Central University placed #13 among the best values for legal professions. North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $6,699, with out-of-state students paying around $19,735. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $56,228. Set against $31,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Meredith College earned the #14 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,630 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $27,176. Legal Professions graduates of Meredith College earn a median of $40,694 early in their careers. Set against $27,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Campbell University landed the #15 spot for legal professions value this year. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $60,334. That is a strong return on a $23,641 median debt. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants.
Wake Forest University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $86,344. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 22%.
Duke University landed the #17 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $213,516. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $21,619. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $57,581. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
