2026 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in the Southeast Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 147 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools.
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2026 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal assistant/paralegal, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #1 spot for value among legal assistant/paralegal schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Petersburg College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $32,383 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $43,499. Set against $32,383 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Central Piedmont Community College one of the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,663 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, while out-of-state students pay about $7,531. Students borrow a median of $20,408 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $46,293 early in their careers. Set against $20,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #6 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $38,066. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gadsden State Community College came in at #7 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Gadsden, Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,272, compared with $7,368 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $9,312. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Gadsden State Community College earn a median of $34,710 early in their careers. Set against $9,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hillsborough Community College placed #8 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,018 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $41,694 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,018 median debt.
Johnston Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $9,490. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $41,278. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hinds Community College landed the #10 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $34,003 early in their careers. Set against $16,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College earned the #11 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $9,616. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $44,673. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
York Technical College came in at #12 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,036, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Students borrow a median of $10,647 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $27,997. That is a strong return on a $10,647 median debt.
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #13 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,516, with out-of-state students paying around $6,084. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $17,619 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of $45,062 early in their careers. Set against $17,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College came in at #14 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $44,082. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Piedmont Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Polkton. Students from in state pay about $2,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,630. Students borrow a median of $10,098 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of South Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College landed the #16 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $21,320. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $37,615 early in their careers. Set against $21,320 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College placed #17 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $12,950 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $40,782. That is a strong return on a $12,950 median debt.
John Tyler Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of John Tyler Community College earn a median of $36,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Itawamba Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fulton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,420, while out-of-state students pay about $5,820. Students borrow a median of $10,942 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Itawamba Community College generally make around $40,832. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cape Fear Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $42,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus Technical College came in at #21 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,052, while out-of-state students pay about $7,262. Students borrow a median of $15,845 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $37,936. Set against $15,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Madisonville Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $41,084. That is a strong return on a $10,985 median debt.
Greenville Technical College placed #23 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,495, with out-of-state students paying around $10,775. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $39,026. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Savannah Technical College landed the #24 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,330, while out-of-state students pay about $5,898. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $12,843 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Savannah Technical College generally make around $37,386. Set against $12,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #25 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,276 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $16,702. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $38,094. That is a strong return on a $16,702 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for legal assistant/paralegal this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 147 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 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.
