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 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 29 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in legal professions, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $45,583. Set against $12,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,600. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,281 median debt.
Saint Louis 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 Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $6,990. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $31,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Kirkwood Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Students borrow a median of $25,083 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $41,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Des Moines Area Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $49,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Inver Hills Community College earned the #6 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,146. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $24,521. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $49,694. That is a strong return on a $24,521 median debt.
North Hennepin Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,061. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $18,625. Legal Professions graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of $48,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,625 median debt.
Johnson County Community College came in at #8 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,367 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $44,921 early in their careers. Set against $19,367 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #9 for value in legal professions this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $23,741. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,766. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #10 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $21,577. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $77,642 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Washburn University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,945, with out-of-state students paying around $20,949. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $60,606. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #12 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $24,408. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Anoka Technical College placed #13 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,267. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $18,408. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Anoka Technical College generally make around $44,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bellevue University earned the #14 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Students borrow a median of $36,540 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $44,839. Set against $36,540 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #15 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $66,354. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Kansas came in at #16 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $70,180. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Rasmussen College Minnesota came in at #17 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Students borrow a median of $28,336 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $37,457. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #18 spot for legal professions value this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $46,572 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,624 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of North Dakota ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $25,110. Legal Professions graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $61,451 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of South Dakota ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $26,322. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $51,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
Hamline University earned the #21 position for value in legal professions this year. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $24,050. Legal Professions graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,050 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #22 among the best values for legal professions. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $53,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis placed #23 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $59,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
University Of Iowa came in at #24 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $24,463. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $78,560. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $71,391 early in their careers. Set against $26,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
These schools also delivered strong value for legal professions this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.