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2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Legal Professions in the Great Lakes Region

29 Ranked Colleges
5,129 Degrees Awarded
$66,590 Avg Salary
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Legal Professions is the 16th most popular major in the country with 61,055 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, legal professions graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $47,649 and had an average of $28,699 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 8,634 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $46,243 and $28,022 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,129 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,305 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 29 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in legal professions. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their legal professions program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School is a small school located in Lansing, Michigan that handed out 411 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Legal Professions at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School

2
Capital crest
Capital University
Columbus, Ohio

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Capital University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s legal professions degrees to 121 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Legal Professions at Capital University

3

Out of the 29 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. Illinois Tech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 226 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Legal Professions at Illinois Institute of Technology

4
Detroit Mercy crest
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Detroit Mercy. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Detroit Mercy is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 176 doctorate’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Detroit Mercy

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio Northern University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region. ONU is located in Ada, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 doctorate’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Professions at ONU

6
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 195 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Marquette University Legal Professions Report

7

Case Western Reserve University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 174 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Case Western Reserve University Legal Professions Report

8
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 233 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Loyola Chicago

9
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 183 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Notre Dame

10

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 285 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Professions at UIC

11
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 296 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Northwestern

12
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 213 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full UChicago Legal Professions Report

13

With a ranking of #13, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 131 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Legal Professions Report

14
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 192 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Legal Professions at DePaul University

15

Cleveland State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s legal professions degrees to 125 students in 2020-2021.

Full Cleveland State University Legal Professions Report

16

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 235 doctorate’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Legal Professions Report

17

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s legal professions degrees to 364 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Professions at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

18

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 61 doctorate’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

19
UDayton crest
University of Dayton
Dayton, Ohio

University of Dayton did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. University of Dayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 doctorate’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Legal Professions at UDayton

20
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. Wayne State University is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 123 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Wayne State University

21

Northern Illinois University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 73 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Legal Professions at Northern Illinois University

22
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

With a ranking of #22, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 216 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Michigan State University Legal Professions Report

23

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s legal professions degrees to 271 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Legal Professions Report

24
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 174 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Indiana University - Bloomington

25
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University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio

University of Toledo ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Legal Professions Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Toledo is a public institution located in Toledo, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 72 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of Toledo Legal Professions Report

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