2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Southwest Region
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 58 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Southwest Region
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
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools in the Southwest Region. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,294. Legal Professions graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $33,381 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,294 median debt.
Tarrant County College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $38,404. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar State College Orange earned it the #3 place for legal professions. Set in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $45,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
San Antonio College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $11,839 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,839 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #7 for value in legal professions this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $34,751. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
South Texas College came in at #8 for value in legal professions this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Amarillo College came in at #9 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $41,053. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College came in at #10 for value in legal professions this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $8,542. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Houston Community College earned the #11 position for value in legal professions this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District landed the #12 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,242 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $46,216. Set against $19,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $10,941. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alvin Community College came in at #14 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $55,057. That is a strong return on a $8,600 median debt.
University Of North Texas At Dallas placed #15 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,595, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
South Plains College came in at #16 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $13,788. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College earned the #17 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, while out-of-state students pay about $4,926. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $47,856. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Angelina College landed the #18 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,430, while out-of-state students pay about $6,490. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $7,828 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $50,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District placed #19 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Students borrow a median of $9,716 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,177. Set against $9,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Yavapai College earned the #20 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,948, while out-of-state students pay about $9,486. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. That is a strong return on a $14,087 median debt.
Rio Salado College landed the #21 spot for legal professions value this year. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $13,679. Legal Professions graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. Set against $13,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Texas College placed #22 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,750, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,290. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $53,086. That is a strong return on a $11,290 median debt.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $23,017. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Tulsa Technology Center placed #24 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,384. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Tulsa Technology Center generally make around $32,406. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.
Lone Star College System ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,251. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $36,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Legal Professions Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for legal professions this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 58 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 58 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.
