by our College Data Analytics Team
[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong law education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for law students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in law, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best value for a degree in law in the Far Western Region. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for law graduates is $10,492. Early-career law graduates make about $162,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Nevada Las Vegas one of the best values for law. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $21,181. Law graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $76,561 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,181 median debt. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine is a great value for students pursuing a degree in law, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for law graduates is $16,539. Law graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $93,534 early in their careers. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Law graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $155,825. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for law. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $16,481. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $81,079. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
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University Of California Berkeley ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $196,724. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis placed #7 among the best values for law. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $85,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans. Law graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $69,865 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Oregon landed the #9 spot for law value this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $22,034. Early-career law graduates make about $64,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Oregon admits about 88% of applicants.
Willamette University earned the #10 position for value in law this year. Set in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,156. Law graduates carry a median of $22,537 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $69,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Pacific ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,080. Law graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans. Law graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of $75,832 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,514 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of San Diego ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $59,486 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for law graduates is $23,795. Law graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $84,518 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,795 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of Southern California landed the #13 spot for law value this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Law graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $183,063. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Westcliff University landed the #14 spot for law value this year. Westcliff University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Students from in state pay about $17,670 in tuition and fees. Law graduates of Westcliff University earn a median of $58,618 early in their careers. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of La Verne placed #15 among the best values for law. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,470. Typical student debt for law graduates is $26,314. Early-career law graduates make about $35,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Seattle University came in at #16 for value in law this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,721. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $74,248. Set against $22,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Seattle University admits about 77% of applicants.
Lewis And Clark College earned the #17 position for value in law this year. Set in the city of Portland, Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,828. Law graduates carry a median of $23,301 in student loans. Law graduates of Lewis And Clark College earn a median of $70,132 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,301 median debt. Lewis And Clark College admits about 78% of applicants.
Gonzaga University placed #18 among the best values for law. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $55,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,188 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Gonzaga University generally make around $65,069. That is a strong return on a $25,188 median debt. Gonzaga University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of San Francisco placed #19 among the best values for law. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $60,522. Law graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $64,326. That is a strong return on a $23,935 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Pepperdine University earned the #20 position for value in law this year. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,918. Typical student debt for law graduates is $23,645. Early-career law graduates make about $79,243. Set against $23,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Loyola Marymount University earned the #21 position for value in law this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,867. Typical student debt for law graduates is $22,248. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $84,074. That is a strong return on a $22,248 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University earned the #22 position for value in law this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,984 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $74,737. That is a strong return on a $21,657 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Santa Clara University placed #23 among the best values for law. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,293 in tuition and fees. Law graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $79,949. Set against $20,144 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
This ranking is produced 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.