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 188 schools to find the best for legal research students.
Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 school for legal research. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 531 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $130,394 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
See the full legal research program report for Georgetown University
New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 475 legal research students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $64,516 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
See the full legal research program report for New York University
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for legal research. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 361 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $60,003 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
More information about a degree in legal research from University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong legal research program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 102 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
See the full legal research program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal research, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 83 legal research degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Legal Research graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
See the full legal research program report for Stanford University
Cornell University earned the #6 position for legal research this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 205 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
See the full legal research program report for Cornell University
Villanova University came in at #7 for legal research this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 65 legal research degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,601. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184.
Get the full legal research details for Villanova University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #8 spot for legal research this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $66,254 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal research from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Harvard University came in at #9 for legal research this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 171 legal research degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Legal Research graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal research details for Harvard University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #10 for legal research this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 85 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $57,461 in their early career. 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
Boston University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 220 legal research degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $113,679. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
Get the full legal research details for Boston University
University Of Chicago earned the #12 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
More information about a degree in legal research from University Of Chicago
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #13 among the best legal research schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 legal research degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $69,126 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
Get the full legal research details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #14 among the best legal research schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 176 legal research degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the legal research program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Florida ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 81 legal research students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Legal Research graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $106,227 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
Read more about the legal research program at University Of Florida
Case Western Reserve University came in at #16 for legal research this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 75 legal research degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $74,459 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
See the full legal research program report for Case Western Reserve University
University Of California Davis ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 47 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $53,749 in their early career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
Get the full legal research details for University Of California Davis
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #18 position for legal research this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 639 legal research degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $102,721 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal research details for Texas A And M University College Station
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #19 position for legal research this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 373 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $130,948 in their early career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
See the full legal research program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #20 position for legal research this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 98 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $71,315 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,774.
Get the full legal research details for Illinois Institute Of Technology
Northwestern University earned the #21 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 261 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal research degree from Northwestern University earn around $129,670 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal research from Northwestern University
Seton Hall University earned the #22 position for legal research this year. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. Seton Hall University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 62 legal research degrees were awarded at Seton Hall University in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $105,031 in their early career. Seton Hall University graduates carry a median of $23,422 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal research from Seton Hall University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #23 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 30 legal research degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal research program make about $56,395 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal research from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #24 position for legal research this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 20 legal research degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
Get the full legal research details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Vanderbilt University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best legal research schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 legal research students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal research degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
Read more about the legal research program at Vanderbilt University
Rest of the Top 50 Legal Research Schools
These schools also placed among the best for legal research this year:
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 · 188 schools evaluated.
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).
