2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Legal Professions School for You
Legal Professions is the #16 most popular major in the country with 61,055 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Legal Professions Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 311 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for legal professions students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Legal Professions
Our 2023 rankings named Thomas Jefferson School of Law the best value school in the United States for legal professions students. Thomas Jefferson School of Law is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of San Diego.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Centro College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools list. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the large city of Dallas.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at El Centro College are $6,000 a year. The average amount in student loans that legal professions majors at El Centro College take out is $15,501.
El Centro College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Legal Professions Schools list.
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Out of the 311 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Anoka Technical College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Anoka Technical College are $6,075 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Anoka Technical College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Legal Professions Schools list.
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The excellent programs at Inver Hills Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best legal professions schools in the United States. IHCC is a small public school located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights.
IHCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,809 in tuition and fees each year. On average, legal professions graduates from IHCC take out $22,750 in student loans while working on their degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, IHCC also did well on our Best Legal Professions Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Hennepin Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Legal Professions Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 per year. After completing their degree, legal professions graduates from North Hennepin Community College carry an average student debtload of $27,804.
North Hennepin Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Legal Professions Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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Oakland Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for legal professions students. It came in at #6 on the list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Bloomfield Hills.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oakland Community College are $5,200 per year. After completing their degree, legal professions graduates from Oakland Community College carry an average student debtload of $19,492.
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American Public University System did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for legal professions students. It came in at #7 on the list. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Charles Town.
American Military University undergraduate students pay an average of $7,360 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, legal professions graduates from American Military University carry an average student debtload of $30,648.
In addition to its great value ranking, American Military University is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Legal Professions Schools list.
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Bellevue University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools ranking. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Bellevue.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Bellevue University are $8,310 a year. After completing their degree, legal professions graduates from Bellevue University carry an average student debtload of $33,682.
In addition to its great value ranking, Bellevue University is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Legal Professions Schools list.
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San Jacinto Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools list. San Jacinto College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Pasadena.
San Jacinto College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,040 in tuition and fees each year.
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Kirkwood Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for legal professions students. It came in at #10 on the list. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids.
Kirkwood Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,072 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, legal professions majors at Kirkwood Community College accumulate an average of around $25,083 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #11, Baton Rouge Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for legal professions students. BRCC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baton Rouge.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BRCC are $4,221 per year.
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Southwestern Illinois College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Belleville, SWIC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SWIC are $5,940 per year. After completing their degree, legal professions graduates from SWIC carry an average student debtload of $8,956.
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Phoenix College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools list. Located in the large city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Phoenix College are $7,854 a year. After completing their degree, legal professions graduates from Phoenix College carry an average student debtload of $15,813.
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Portland Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools list. Located in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Portland Community College are $9,670 a year. After completing their degree, legal professions graduates from Portland Community College carry an average student debtload of $23,666.
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Valencia College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for legal professions students. It came in at #15 on the list. Valencia College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Orlando.
Valencia College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,383 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that legal professions majors at Valencia College take out is $15,501.
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With a ranking of #16, Cerritos College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for legal professions students. Cerritos College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk.
Cerritos College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,026 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that legal professions majors at Cerritos College take out is $16,650.
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Austin Community College District landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value legal professions programs. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the large city of Austin.
Austin Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $10,590 in tuition and fees each year. Legal Professions majors at Austin Community College District take out an average of $11,808 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #18, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for legal professions students. CNM is a fairly large public school located in the city of Albuquerque.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CNM are $7,540 per year.
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Ivy Tech Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value legal professions programs. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 a year. While working on their degree, legal professions majors at Ivy Tech Community College accumulate an average of around $14,600 in student debt.
Ivy Tech Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Legal Professions Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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With a ranking of #20, Sinclair Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for legal professions students. Located in the medium-sized city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Sinclair Community College are $8,076 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Sinclair Community College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Legal Professions Schools list.
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Central Piedmont Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value legal professions programs. Central Piedmont Community College is a large public school located in the city of Charlotte.
Central Piedmont Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,936 in tuition and fees each year.
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With a ranking of #22, National Paralegal College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for legal professions students. Located in the large city of Phoenix, National Paralegal College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at National Paralegal College are $7,995 a year. On average, legal professions graduates from National Paralegal College take out $40,868 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value legal professions programs. Located in the city of Kansas City, MCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $9,210 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, MCC also is in the top 20% of our Best Legal Professions Schools ranking.
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With a ranking of #23, Brookdale Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for legal professions students. Located in the rural area of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Brookdale Community College are $9,554 per year. While working on their degree, legal professions majors at Brookdale Community College accumulate an average of around $14,750 in student debt.
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Des Moines Area Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value legal professions programs. DMACC is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Ankeny.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DMACC are $10,440 per year. On average, legal professions graduates from DMACC take out $14,243 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Legal Professions Schools award.
Rank | College | Location |
---|---|---|
47 | Hodges University | Naples, FL |
48 | Herzing University - Madison | Madison, WI |
49 | St Petersburg College | Clearwater, FL |
50 | Nassau Community College | Garden City, NY |
51 | University of Houston - Clear Lake | Houston, TX |
52 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN |
53 | Rasmussen University - Wisconsin | Green Bay, WI |
54 | City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College | Chicago, IL |
55 | Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City, UT |
56 | Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold, MD |
57 | Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, FL |
58 | Rasmussen University - Illinois | Rockford, IL |
59 | SUNY Canton | Canton, NY |
60 | Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School | Lansing, MI |
61 | Minnesota State University - Moorhead | Moorhead, MN |
62 | Drake University | Des Moines, IA |
Legal Professions by Region
View the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a specific region near you.
Region |
---|
Southeast |
New England |
Rocky Mountains |
Plains States |
Middle Atlantic |
Far Western US |
Southwest |
Great Lakes |
More Legal Professions Rankings
Legal Professions Related Majors for Legal Professions
Legal Professions Majors to Study
Major | Annual Graduates |
---|---|
Law | 36,216 |
Legal Support Services | 11,545 |
Legal Research | 6,874 |
Non-Professional General Legal Studies | 4,407 |
Legal Professions (Other) | 2,013 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Legal Professions
Related Major | Annual Graduates |
---|---|
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting | 142,610 |
Public Administration & Social Service | 98,583 |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies | 73,813 |
Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 4,477 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to The wub.
More about our data sources and methodologies.