2026 Best Value Law Schools in the New England Region

[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong law education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for law students.
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2026 Best Value Law Schools in the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the law degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Law Schools
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 best value for law in the New England Region. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the law program here. Law graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $175,880 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Southern Maine came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $23,593 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $61,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a great value for students pursuing a degree in law, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Students borrow a median of $27,106 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $51,841. Set against $27,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in law will find it at University Of Connecticut, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $23,637. Early-career law graduates make about $78,622. That is a strong return on a $23,637 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boston University earned it the #5 place for law. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Typical student debt for law graduates is $25,232. Law graduates of Boston University earn a median of $139,986 early in their careers. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Yale University earned the #6 position for value in law this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for law graduates is $14,357. Law graduates of Yale University earn a median of $139,244 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Suffolk University earned the #7 position for value in law this year. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $47,550. Law graduates carry a median of $26,670 in student loans. Law graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of $69,917 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Western New England University came in at #8 for value in law this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Western New England University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,820. Typical student debt for law graduates is $25,520. Law graduates of Western New England University earn a median of $48,821 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,520 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Quinnipiac University came in at #9 for value in law this year. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,480. Students borrow a median of $25,926 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $62,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College came in at #10 for value in law this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,702. Law graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $117,864. Set against $18,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
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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 · 16 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.