2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in California
[Non-Professional General Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 60 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for non-professional general legal studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the non-professional general legal studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Fresno City College the best value for a degree in non-professional general legal studies in California. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at Oxnard College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
College Of The Canyons came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Pasadena City College one of the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in non-professional general legal studies will find it at Hartnell College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Santa Ana College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Sacramento City College came in at #7 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Sacramento City College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $46,522 early in their careers. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chaffey College came in at #8 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,184, while out-of-state students pay about $11,120. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $23,532. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District placed #9 among the best values for non-professional general legal studies. Located in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,448, compared with $12,728 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $8,770. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $37,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles City College came in at #10 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. Los Angeles City College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for non-professional general legal studies graduates is $10,763. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $83,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #11 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
East Los Angeles College came in at #12 for value in non-professional general legal studies this year. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $33,595. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of California Berkeley landed the #13 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $13,723 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $43,886 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Students borrow a median of $18,416 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Soon after graduation, non-professional general legal studies degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $36,941. That is a strong return on a $18,416 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of La Verne ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value non-professional general legal studies schools. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,470. Students borrow a median of $30,370 to complete the non-professional general legal studies program here. Early-career non-professional general legal studies graduates make about $49,004. That is a strong return on a $30,370 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
National University landed the #16 spot for non-professional general legal studies value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,284 in tuition and fees. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans. Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates of National University earn a median of $69,080 early in their careers. Set against $30,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Non-Professional General Legal Studies Rankings
View All Non-Professional General Legal Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
