2026 Best General Legal Studies Schools
Looking for the best General Legal Studies programs programs in the United States? This list ranks 97 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 General Legal Studies Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Located in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. University Of Pennsylvania General Legal Studies students take on a median of $16,155 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Pennsylvania
Hamline University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Hamline University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Typical General Legal Studies student debt is $23,250. See the full Hamline University profile
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete their General Legal Studies program here. Read more about Central New Mexico Community College
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. About 84% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Texas A And M University College Station General Legal Studies students take on a median of $20,031 in debt. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
Roger Williams University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Located in Bristol, RI, Roger Williams University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,197. Roger Williams University General Legal Studies students take on a median of $25,676 in debt. More on Roger Williams University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Set in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus General Legal Studies students take on a median of $23,530 in debt. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
Anne Arundel Community College placed #33 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. This public school is set in Arnold, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $4,322, while out-of-state students pay about $11,522. Anne Arundel Community College General Legal Studies students take on a median of $13,947 in debt. See the full Anne Arundel Community College profile
Creighton University landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Creighton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. About 83% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Creighton University General Legal Studies students take on a median of $25,831 in debt. More on Creighton University
Liberty University landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. Typical General Legal Studies student debt is $26,656. See the full Liberty University profile
Trinity Law School placed #47 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Located in Santa Ana, CA, Trinity Law School is a private not-for-profit institution. More on Trinity Law School
Champlain College ranked #59 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Champlain College is a private not-for-profit school based in Burlington, VT. Champlain College graduates 65% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,850. Typical General Legal Studies student debt is $27,631. Read more about Champlain College
Nova Southeastern University ranked #60 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Nova Southeastern University graduates 63% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Typical General Legal Studies student debt is $25,021. See the full Nova Southeastern University profile
Barry University did well this year, earning the #65 position. Based in Miami, FL, Barry University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,350. Students borrow a median of $31,180 to complete their General Legal Studies program here. See the full Barry University profile
Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses did well this year, earning the #66 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stockton, CA. Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses posts a six-year graduation rate of 100%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,500. Typical General Legal Studies student debt is $42,366. See the full Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses profile
Connors State College placed #15 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Connors State College report
Cedarville University placed #16 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. See the full Cedarville University profile
Charleston Southern University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. See the full Charleston Southern University profile
Northland College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read more about Northland College
Waynesburg University did well this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Waynesburg University profile
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Get the full Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce report
American Samoa Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Read more about American Samoa Community College
Snow College
Snow College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full Snow College profile
Cuny City College placed #23 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Cuny City College
Casper College
Casper College placed #24 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Casper College
Newberry College
Newberry College placed #25 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Newberry College
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Legal Studies Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
The University Of Montana placed #26 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. See the full The University Of Montana profile
Youngstown State University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. More on Youngstown State University
Oklahoma Christian University did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Oklahoma Christian University
Fontbonne University did well this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Fontbonne University profile
Florida Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on Florida Institute Of Technology
Florida National University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #31 position. See the full Florida National University Main Campus profile
Fort Peck Community College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. More on Fort Peck Community College
Michigan State University placed #33 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. See the full Michigan State University profile
Utah State University came in at #34 in this year's ranking. See the full Utah State University profile
Emmanuel College Georgia ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Get the full Emmanuel College Georgia report
Blackburn College placed #36 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. See the full Blackburn College profile
Western Texas College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. More on Western Texas College
Central Christian College Of Kansas did well this year, earning the #38 position. Get the full Central Christian College Of Kansas report
North Idaho College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. See the full North Idaho College profile
Barton County Community College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Barton County Community College report
Temple University did well this year, earning the #41 position. See the full Temple University profile
Dodge City Community College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. See the full Dodge City Community College profile
Jacksonville University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. More on Jacksonville University
Limestone College did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on Limestone College
Peace College
Peace College placed #45 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Peace College
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Read more about University Of Central Oklahoma
Henderson State University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full Henderson State University profile
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Get the full Western Nebraska Community College report
National University came in at #49 in this year's ranking. See the full National University profile
St Philips College did well this year, earning the #50 position. More on St Philips College
Best General Legal Studies Schools by Degree Level
Explore rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best General Legal Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Legal Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Legal Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best General Legal Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best General Legal Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best General Legal Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best General Legal Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 97 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.