2026 Best Value Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools

1

University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value legal research schools in the United States. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $106,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.

2

Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.

3

University Of California Irvine
Irvine, CA

A rank of #3 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for legal research. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $50,958. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.

4

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State University earned it the #4 place for legal research. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $80,899. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.

5

Florida International University
Miami, FL

A rank of #5 makes Florida International University one of the best values for legal research. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $52,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.

6

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

University Of California Berkeley earned the #6 position for value in legal research this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $60,003. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.

7

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #7 position for value in legal research this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Legal Research graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.

8

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #8 spot for legal research value this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $64,399. That is a strong return on a $23,146 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.

9

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #9 among the best values for legal research. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the legal research program here. Legal Research graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.

10

University Of Georgia
Athens, GA

University Of Georgia placed #10 among the best values for legal research. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the legal research program here. Legal Research graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.

11

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

University Of California Los Angeles earned the #11 position for value in legal research this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $16,097. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $91,677. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.

12

University Of California Davis
Davis, CA

University Of California Davis placed #12 among the best values for legal research. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Legal Research graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

13

University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA

University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #13 among the best values for legal research. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Early-career legal research graduates make about $52,118. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.

14

Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University placed #14 among the best values for legal research. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $16,616. Early-career legal research graduates make about $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

15

University Of Missouri Kansas City
Kansas City, MO

University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #15 among the best values for legal research. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.

16

Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington earned the #16 position for value in legal research this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Legal Research graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.

17

University Of Wisconsin Madison
Madison, WI

University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #17 spot for legal research value this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the legal research program here. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.

18

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University placed #18 among the best values for legal research. 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. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,326. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.

19

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #19 among the best values for legal research. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $21,577. Legal Research graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.

20

University Of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

University Of Arizona landed the #20 spot for legal research value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Legal Research graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

21

Brigham Young University Provo
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo earned the #21 position for value in legal research this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Students borrow a median of $12,184 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $54,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.

22

Wayne State University
Detroit, MI

Wayne State University placed #22 among the best values for legal research. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal research graduates is $26,689. Legal Research graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.

23

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University landed the #23 spot for legal research value this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the legal research program here. Early-career legal research graduates make about $63,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.

24

University Of Houston
Houston, TX

University Of Houston landed the #24 spot for legal research value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Legal Research graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Legal Research graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.

25

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

University Of Chicago earned the #25 position for value in legal research this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the legal research program here. Legal Research graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.