2026 Best Value Law Schools in the Southeast Region
[Law](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/law/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 51 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value law schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Law Schools in the Southeast 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 University Of Florida, our #1 best value for law in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Law graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $72,350. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in law will find it at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #2. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $81,794. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #3 place for law. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Law graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $62,854. That is a strong return on a $20,488 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #4 makes Florida International University one of the best values for law. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for law graduates is $19,349. Early-career law graduates make about $64,813. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Georgia came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $76,702. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Typical student debt for law graduates is $25,572. Early-career law graduates make about $47,291. Set against $25,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for law. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $61,201. That is a strong return on a $22,444 median debt. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Georgia State University came in at #8 for value in law this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Typical student debt for law graduates is $26,091. Early-career law graduates make about $77,765. That is a strong return on a $26,091 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $58,881. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University earned the #10 position for value in law this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for law graduates is $23,529. Law graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $77,057 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Kentucky came in at #11 for value in law this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $53,600. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University placed #12 among the best values for law. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Law graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $156,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis landed the #13 spot for law value this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $26,315. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $52,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Law graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans. Law graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $66,239 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,019 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee placed #15 among the best values for law. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $22,859. Law graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $65,905 early in their careers. Set against $22,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina Central University placed #16 among the best values for law. North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $6,699 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $31,173. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $56,228. Set against $31,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina Central University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earned the #17 position for value in law this year. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,911, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. Typical student debt for law graduates is $27,093. Early-career law graduates make about $57,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisville earned the #18 position for value in law this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Students borrow a median of $21,910 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $56,417. That is a strong return on a $21,910 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University landed the #19 spot for law value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Law graduates carry a median of $26,824 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University generally make around $54,751. That is a strong return on a $26,824 median debt. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #20 for value in law this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $21,348. Law graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $67,339 early in their careers. Set against $21,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Set in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,938 in tuition and fees. Law graduates carry a median of $20,693 in student loans. Law graduates of Lincoln Memorial University earn a median of $46,511 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,693 median debt. Lincoln Memorial University admits about 63% of applicants.
Stetson University came in at #22 for value in law this year. Located in the city of DeLand, Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,410. Students borrow a median of $25,382 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $63,235. Set against $25,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Regent University earned the #23 position for value in law this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Typical student debt for law graduates is $29,451. Early-career law graduates make about $59,604. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The University Of Alabama placed #24 among the best values for law. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $74,203. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #25 spot for law value this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for law graduates is $18,627. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $204,216. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Rest of the Top 47 Best Value Law Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s law value ranking:
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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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
