by our College Data Analytics Team
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value legal professions schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal professions degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked American Public University System the best value for a degree in legal professions in West Virginia. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $29,337. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $43,098. That is a strong return on a $29,337 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia University earned it the #2 place for legal professions. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $58,881. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.