2026 Best Legal Professions Schools in California
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 117 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best legal professions schools.
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Best Schools for Legal Professions in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal professions education in California.
Top Schools in Legal Professions
University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in legal professions. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 947 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $60,141 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,723 in student loans.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal professions, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 287 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Stanford University earn around $162,001 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 658 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $91,845 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal professions, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 289 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $85,816. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
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Loyola Marymount University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #5 spot this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 409 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $107,760 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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University Of San Diego ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 405 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $97,322 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,437 to complete this degree.
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Pepperdine University earned the #7 position for legal professions this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. Pepperdine University awarded about 291 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $58,997. Typical student debt for the program is $23,645.
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University Of Southern California came in at #8 for legal professions this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 1,050 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $73,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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University Of California Hastings College Of Law earned the #9 position for legal professions this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of California Hastings College Of Law is a small public university. University Of California Hastings College Of Law awarded about 406 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $90,386 in their early career.
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University Of California Irvine earned the #10 position for legal professions this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 199 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $93,534 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz placed #11 among the best legal professions schools. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. About 104 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $36,941. Students borrow a median of $18,416 to complete this degree.
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Santa Clara University earned the #12 position for legal professions this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 205 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $79,949 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
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National University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 legal professions degrees were awarded at National University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from National University generally make around $69,080. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree.
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Mti College placed #14 among the best legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Mti College is a mid-sized private for-profit university. There were roughly 41 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Mti College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $47,535 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,758.
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Fresno City College placed #15 among the best legal professions schools. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Fresno City College awarded about 87 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $37,470 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Francisco earned the #16 position for legal professions this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 177 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $121,935 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #17 position for legal professions this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 19 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
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De Anza College landed the #18 spot for legal professions this year. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. De Anza College awarded about 73 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree.
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Santa Ana College earned the #19 position for legal professions this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Santa Ana College awarded about 136 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Santa Ana College earn around $39,633 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete this degree.
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University Of The Pacific placed #20 among the best legal professions schools. Located in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 170 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Pacific in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from University Of The Pacific earn around $73,910 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete this degree.
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Mt San Antonio College came in at #21 for legal professions this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 60 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $29,569 in their early career. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $14,353 in student loans.
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Chapman University earned the #22 position for legal professions this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chapman University awarded about 145 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Chapman University earn around $74,737 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
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West Valley College came in at #23 for legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. West Valley College awarded about 37 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from West Valley College earn around $25,378 in the first couple years of their career. West Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans.
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College Of The Canyons came in at #24 for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. There were roughly 78 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
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San Diego Miramar College came in at #25 for legal professions this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. About 66 legal professions degrees were awarded at San Diego Miramar College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $41,038 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Legal Professions Schools
These schools also placed among the best for legal professions this year:
More Legal Professions Rankings
View All Legal Professions Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 117 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
