2026 Best General Legal Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best General Legal Studies doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 97 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Lakewood University to be the best General Legal Studies school in the United States. Get the full Lakewood University report
You'll be in good company at National University, which ranked #2 this year. More on National University
A rank of #3 makes Augusta University one of the top choices in the United States. More on Augusta University
The strong General Legal Studies programs at Butler Community College earned it the #4 place in the United States. More on Butler Community College
The strong General Legal Studies programs at St Philips College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Read more about St Philips College
The University Of Montana landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. See the full The University Of Montana profile
Dodge City Community College placed #7 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. See the full Dodge City Community College profile
Itawamba Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Get the full Itawamba Community College report
Denison University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. See the full Denison University profile
Emmanuel College Georgia did well this year, earning the #10 position. Read the full report on Emmanuel College Georgia
Jacksonville University placed #11 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. More on Jacksonville University
Siena College
Siena College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Read more about Siena College
The University Of Findlay came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Get the full The University Of Findlay report
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. More on Thomas Jefferson University
Southern Adventist University placed #15 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Southern Adventist University report
Husson University landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. More on Husson University
Paris Junior College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Paris Junior College
Mt Hood Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Read the full report on Mt Hood Community College
Lubbock Christian University placed #19 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Lubbock Christian University report
Temple University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Temple University report
Casper College
Casper College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. See the full Casper College profile
Connors State College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Connors State College
University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #23 position. More on University Of Pennsylvania
Indiana Institute Of Technology came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Get the full Indiana Institute Of Technology report
Fresno Pacific University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. See the full Fresno Pacific University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best General Legal Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus did well this year, earning the #26 position. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Get the full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute report
Temple College
Temple College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. See the full Temple College profile
Henderson State University placed #29 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Henderson State University
Bennington College did well this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Bennington College profile
Charleston Southern University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Read the full report on Charleston Southern University
Alpena Community College placed #32 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Alpena Community College
Champlain College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read more about Champlain College
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Arkansas Fort Smith
Florida National University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #35 position. More on Florida National University Main Campus
North Idaho College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on North Idaho College
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce placed #37 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce report
Blackburn College did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Blackburn College
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. More on University Of Central Oklahoma
Michigan State University landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. More on Michigan State University
Santa Fe Community College did well this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full Santa Fe Community College report
Hamline University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Hamline University report
Florida Institute Of Technology landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Florida Institute Of Technology
Utah State University came in at #44 in this year's ranking. See the full Utah State University profile
Howard Payne University landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. More on Howard Payne University
Fontbonne University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read more about Fontbonne University
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Northern Michigan University did well this year, earning the #48 position. More on Northern Michigan University
Peace College
Peace College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best General Legal Studies schools. Read more about Peace College
Mississippi Valley State University placed #50 among General Legal Studies schools in the United States. More on Mississippi Valley State University
Related General Legal Studies Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best General Legal Studies Schools (All Levels)
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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).
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