2026 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in Texas
[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 33 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 Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal assistant/paralegal, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
El Centro College earned the #1 spot for value among legal assistant/paralegal schools in Texas. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $17,294 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $33,381. Set against $17,294 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alvin Community College earned it the #2 place for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #3 spot this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $30,227. 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 Del Mar College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $7,476. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $40,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $8,542. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Tarrant County College District landed the #6 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $38,404. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College came in at #7 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District earned the #8 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $19,242 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $46,216. That is a strong return on a $19,242 median debt.
Amarillo College landed the #9 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $41,053. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
Central Texas College came in at #10 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Central Texas College is a large public school located in the suburb of Killeen. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $11,290. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $53,086. That is a strong return on a $11,290 median debt.
Houston Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $40,365. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt.
South Plains College placed #12 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #13 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $11,376. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $38,107. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District earned the #14 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $42,177. Set against $9,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lone Star College System landed the #15 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $17,251. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $36,678 early in their careers. Set against $17,251 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $9,087. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tyler Junior College earned the #17 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $43,348. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Houston Clear Lake landed the #18 spot for legal assistant/paralegal value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,346, while out-of-state students pay about $22,290. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $42,723. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston Clear Lake admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Commerce came in at #19 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,026, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $24,375 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $54,201. That is a strong return on a $24,375 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Center For Advanced Legal Studies placed #20 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Center For Advanced Legal Studies is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $19,221. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $33,486. Set against $19,221 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arlington Career Institute earned the #21 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Arlington Career Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Arlington. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,674.
More Legal Assistant/Paralegal Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
