2027 Best Legal Professions Schools in Illinois
Legal Professions degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for legal professions students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Legal Professions in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal professions education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Legal Professions
No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for legal professions. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 300 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $199,603. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of Chicago
Students looking for a strong legal professions program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 657 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $129,781. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full legal professions program report for Northwestern University
Illinois State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 18 legal professions degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Illinois State University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for legal professions. 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. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $84,855. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
Get the full legal professions details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Loyola University Chicago came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 562 legal professions degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $97,368 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Loyola University Chicago
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 383 legal professions degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $73,249. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans.
Read more about the legal professions program at Illinois Institute Of Technology
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #7 spot for legal professions this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 277 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $62,322. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
College Of Lake County landed the #8 spot for legal professions this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. College Of Lake County awarded about 32 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from College Of Lake County earn around $45,094 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal professions program at College Of Lake County
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned the #9 position for legal professions this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 18 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn around $33,073 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,093 to complete this degree.
See the full legal professions program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Roosevelt University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $50,101 in their early career. Roosevelt University graduates carry a median of $15,986 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Roosevelt University
Depaul University ranked #11 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. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 276 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $68,344. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
See the full legal professions program report for Depaul University
Lewis And Clark Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best legal professions schools. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. There were roughly 40 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Lewis And Clark Community College earn around $41,313 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete this degree.
See the full legal professions program report for Lewis And Clark Community College
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #13 position for legal professions this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 27 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from University Of Illinois At Springfield earn around $53,344 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,925.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Illinois At Springfield
Elgin Community College landed the #14 spot for legal professions this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. There were roughly 17 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Elgin Community College earn around $43,975 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Elgin Community College
College Of Dupage landed the #15 spot for legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. College Of Dupage awarded about 24 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $40,429. Students borrow a median of $21,625 to complete this degree.
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Oakton Community College placed #16 among the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 11 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Oakton Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $48,838 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal professions program at Oakton Community College
Joliet Junior College came in at #17 for legal professions this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. There were roughly 22 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $40,118 in their early career. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Joliet Junior College
Mchenry County College earned the #18 position for legal professions this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Mchenry County College awarded about 28 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Mchenry County College graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Mchenry County College
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #19 for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 17 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Moraine Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Moraine Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans.
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Maccormac College placed #20 among the best legal professions schools. Maccormac College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Maccormac College awarded about 12 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Maccormac College generally make around $43,061. Maccormac College graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
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Northern Illinois University came in at #21 for legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 109 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $57,561 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Northern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #22 position for legal professions this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 89 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $38,536 in their early career. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
See the full legal professions program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
More Legal Professions Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 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.