2026 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Pennsylvania
[Legal Assistant/Paralegal](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-support-services/legal-assistant-paralegal/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal assistant/paralegal students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal assistant/paralegal degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
Our analysis ranked Delaware County Community College the best value for a degree in legal assistant/paralegal in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Students borrow a median of $14,866 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $40,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bucks County Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $13,068 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Community College Of Allegheny County one of the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $47,420 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Lehigh Carbon Community College one of the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Schnecksville. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,270 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $14,450 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $39,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $13,337. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $40,240 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,337 median debt.
Peirce College landed the #6 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Peirce College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $15,060. Students borrow a median of $47,341 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Peirce College generally make around $46,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Philadelphia earned the #7 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,632, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $20,812 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Community College Of Philadelphia earn a median of $37,988 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,812 median debt.
Institute Of Medical Careers landed the #8 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Located in the suburb of Pittsburgh, Institute Of Medical Careers is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $18,889 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Institute Of Medical Careers earn a median of $26,365 early in their careers.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
