Legal Professions degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 494 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best legal professions schools.
Where you study legal professions matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Legal Professions Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Legal Professions School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Legal Professions Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Georgetown University the best school in the country for a degree in legal professions. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 1,455 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $101,449 early in their careers. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
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New York University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 949 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from New York University generally make around $167,839. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
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Harvard University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 782 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $175,880. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full legal professions program report for Harvard University
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal professions, ranking #4. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 444 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $157,243 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
More information about a degree in legal professions from University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Chicago came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 300 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $199,603 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal professions from University Of Chicago
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #6 spot for legal professions this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 817 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $175,992 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #7 position for legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 360 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $204,216 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #8 position for legal professions this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 369 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $170,537 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Duke University came in at #9 for legal professions this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. There were roughly 385 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $213,516. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 805 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $60,051. Typical student debt for the program is $13,723.
More information about a degree in legal professions from University Of California Berkeley
Northwestern University came in at #11 for legal professions this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 657 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $129,781 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Stanford University came in at #12 for legal professions this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 269 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $162,001 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
See the full legal professions program report for Stanford University
Cornell University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 398 legal professions degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $213,356. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Cornell University
Illinois State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Illinois State University earn around $49,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896.
Read more about the legal professions program at Illinois State University
Auburn University landed the #15 spot for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Auburn University awarded about 69 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Auburn University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #16 among the best legal professions schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 264 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $84,855 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree.
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George Washington University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 781 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $90,200 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal professions from George Washington University
Boston University earned the #18 position for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 443 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $113,720 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University came in at #19 for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 248 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $156,307 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Vanderbilt University
Villanova University earned the #20 position for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 252 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Villanova University earn around $74,646 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal professions program at Villanova University
Washington University In St Louis came in at #21 for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 588 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $59,847 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station placed #22 among the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 1,383 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $102,716 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans.
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Loyola Marymount University placed #23 among the best legal professions schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 375 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $107,771. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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Yale University earned the #24 position for legal professions this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 246 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $139,244. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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University Of California Davis landed the #25 spot for legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 248 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from University Of California Davis earn around $85,816 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of California Davis
Rest of the Top 50 Legal Professions Schools
These schools also placed among the best for legal professions this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 494 schools evaluated.
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).
