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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Legal Research Schools in Illinois

1 Colleges in the United States
871 Legal Research Degrees Awarded
$82,160 Avg Early-Career Salary

Legal Research programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools to find the best for legal research students.

What’s on this page:

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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the legal research degrees they offer, see the list below.

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in legal research. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 86 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

University Of Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 82 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Read more about the legal research program at University Of Chicago

3

Students looking for a strong legal research program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 278 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $129,670 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal research from Northwestern University

4

Illinois Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 98 legal research degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $71,315 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal research program at Illinois Institute Of Technology

5

Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal research, ranking #5. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 300 legal research degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $98,283. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521. Get the full legal research details for Loyola University Chicago

6
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #6 for legal research this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 27 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $55,226 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310. Read more about the legal research program at Depaul University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 8 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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