2026 Best Value Law Schools in the Southwest 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.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value law schools.
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2026 Best Value Law Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in law, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Law Schools
Arizona State University earned the #1 spot for value among law schools in the Southwest Region. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for law graduates is $21,842. Early-career law graduates make about $72,119. Set against $21,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston earned it the #2 place for law. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $88,163. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Students looking for strong value in law will find it at University Of North Texas At Dallas, which ranked #3. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,595, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. The acceptance rate is 84%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned it the #4 place for law. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $63,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Arizona is a great value for students pursuing a degree in law, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for law graduates is $21,861. Early-career law graduates make about $61,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #6 spot for law value this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $21,275. Law graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $103,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $63,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Texas Tech University placed #8 among the best values for law. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the law program here. Early-career law graduates make about $72,448. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #9 position for value in law this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for law graduates is $20,031. Early-career law graduates make about $75,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Texas Southern University earned the #10 position for value in law this year. Set in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,637, with out-of-state students paying around $21,473. Students borrow a median of $35,330 to complete the law program here. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Texas Southern University generally make around $41,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
St Marys University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,434. Typical student debt for law graduates is $25,040. Law graduates of St Marys University earn a median of $53,677 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Oklahoma City University came in at #12 for value in law this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,754. Typical student debt for law graduates is $27,248. Law graduates of Oklahoma City University earn a median of $53,246 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Tulsa earned the #13 position for value in law this year. University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,546. Law graduates carry a median of $23,638 in student loans. Early-career law graduates make about $60,334. Set against $23,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Tulsa admits about 62% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University landed the #14 spot for law value this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Law graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $101,456. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Baylor University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value law schools. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Law graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Soon after graduation, law degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $85,368. Set against $23,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 2 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.
