2026 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Virginia
[Legal Assistant/Paralegal](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-support-services/legal-assistant-paralegal/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 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 Virginia
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
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #1 spot for value among legal assistant/paralegal schools in Virginia. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $38,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in legal assistant/paralegal will find it at John Tyler Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $36,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $17,427. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $45,915 early in their careers. Set against $17,427 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,858 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $14,177 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $34,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in legal assistant/paralegal will find it at Regent University, which ranked #5. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Students borrow a median of $37,747 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $36,758. Set against $37,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $34,076 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $43,713. That is a strong return on a $34,076 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
National College Salem placed #7 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Set in the suburb of Salem, National College Salem is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,716. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $27,930 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from National College Salem generally make around $27,900. That is a strong return on a $27,930 median debt.
University Of Richmond landed the #8 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $65,230. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $53,815. That is a strong return on a $21,634 median debt. The acceptance rate is 22%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
