2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Virginia
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for legal professions students.
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2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Virginia
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
Leading the list is Virginia Western Community College, our #1 best value for legal professions in Virginia. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,245. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $38,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Tyler Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,262. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,427. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $45,915. Set against $17,427 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,858 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Students borrow a median of $14,177 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $34,914 early in their careers. Set against $14,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George Mason University placed #6 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $77,057 early in their careers. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
College Of William And Mary placed #7 among the best values for legal professions. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $18,935. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $77,921. That is a strong return on a $18,935 median debt. The acceptance rate is 34%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #8 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $204,216. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Regent University came in at #9 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $37,747. Legal Professions graduates of Regent University earn a median of $41,704 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $37,747 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University placed #10 among the best values for legal professions. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $25,000. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $40,966. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
National College Salem ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Salem, National College Salem is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $10,716 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $27,930 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $27,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washington And Lee University placed #12 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,045 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Washington And Lee University generally make around $77,253. That is a strong return on a $20,074 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University landed the #13 spot for legal professions value this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $32,592. Legal Professions graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $48,174 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Richmond came in at #14 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,230. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $21,634. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $66,704. That is a strong return on a $21,634 median debt. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
More Legal Professions Rankings
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Notes and References
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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
