ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value International Law & Legal Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1 Colleges in the United States
$23,268 Avg Student Debt
$77,980 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value International Law & Legal Studies Badge [International Law & Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international law & legal studies students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/international-law-and-legal-studies/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 9
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 22.02), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Legal Studies (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Legal Studies (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Legal Services & Studies (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Legal Services & Studies (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "International Business (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "International Business (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA - International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MBA - International Business (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA in International Business" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MBA in International Business" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Criminal Justice & Law Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Criminal Justice & Law Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Business Administration - International Business" with relevance 0.4
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Business Administration - International Business" REJECTED (relevance 0.4)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 1 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 1
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 1 offers with relevance >= 0.8

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international law & legal studies, balancing cost against outcomes.

1

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among international law & legal studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.

2
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Students looking for strong value in international law & legal studies will find it at Depaul University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. International Law & Legal Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.

3

Loyola University Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international law & legal studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. International Law & Legal Studies graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career international law & legal studies graduates make about $98,283. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

4

Case Western Reserve University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value international law & legal studies schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Typical student debt for international law & legal studies graduates is $25,106. Soon after graduation, international law & legal studies degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.

Narrow International Law & Legal Studies Schools by State

ADBLOCK #173
View All International Law & Legal Studies Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options