2026 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in Maryland

[Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/legal-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value legal studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Legal Studies Schools in Maryland
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Studies Schools
Leading the list is Harford Community College, our #1 best value for legal studies in Maryland. Set in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $12,624 in student loans. Legal Studies graduates of Harford Community College earn a median of $50,636 early in their careers. Set against $12,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in legal studies will find it at University Of Maryland University College, which ranked #2. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $31,017 in student loans. Legal Studies graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $54,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Baltimore came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value legal studies schools. University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Students borrow a median of $29,681 to complete the legal studies program here. Early-career legal studies graduates make about $56,837. Set against $29,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
More Legal Studies Rankings
View All Legal Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked 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 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.