Legal Assistant/Paralegal programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 530 schools to find the best for legal assistant/paralegal students.
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Choosing a Great Legal Assistant/Paralegal School
The school you choose for legal assistant/paralegal can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Legal Assistant/Paralegal School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Legal Assistant/Paralegal Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Legal Assistant/Paralegal in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the legal assistant/paralegal degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Illinois State University, our #1 school for legal assistant/paralegal. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 14 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Illinois State University earn around $49,660 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Illinois State University
George Washington University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, ranking #2. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $64,069 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from George Washington University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 71 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $45,549 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,258 in student loans.
Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Of San Diego is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, ranking #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Diego awarded about 121 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $50,493. Students borrow a median of $20,437 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for University Of San Diego
University Of Richmond is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Richmond awarded about 17 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $53,815. Typical student debt for the program is $21,634.
Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for University Of Richmond
Miami Dade College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Miami. Miami Dade College awarded about 34 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Miami Dade College earn around $40,782 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,950 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Miami Dade College
Palm Beach State College earned the #7 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lake Worth. There were roughly 19 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Palm Beach State College in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $46,622 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,000.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Palm Beach State College
Grand Valley State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Grand Valley State University awarded about 44 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $40,778 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Grand Valley State University
Montclair State University came in at #9 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Montclair. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Montclair State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $44,369. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at Montclair State University
Broward College landed the #10 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. About 25 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Broward College earn around $51,328 in the first couple years of their career. Broward College graduates carry a median of $13,110 in student loans.
Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for Broward College
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #11 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. About 31 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $49,137. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete this degree.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Nassau Community College came in at #12 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Garden City. Nassau Community College awarded about 46 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $32,464 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for Nassau Community College
Tarrant County College District earned the #13 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 31 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Tarrant County College District in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $38,404 in their early career. Tarrant County College District graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Tarrant County College District
Stevenson University placed #14 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Stevenson University awarded about 26 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Stevenson University earn a median of $46,661 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Stevenson University
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #15 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. Florida State College At Jacksonville awarded about 39 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete this degree.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Florida State College At Jacksonville
College Of Lake County earned the #16 position for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. There were roughly 34 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at College Of Lake County in the most recent data year. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $45,094 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for College Of Lake County
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #17 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 67 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Florida Gulf Coast University earn around $39,824 in the first couple years of their career. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates carry a median of $22,777 in student loans.
Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at Florida Gulf Coast University
Fox Valley Technical College placed #18 among the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 12 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. Typical student debt for the program is $13,319.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Fox Valley Technical College
University Of Houston Clear Lake landed the #19 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Houston Clear Lake awarded about 19 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $42,723 in their early career. University Of Houston Clear Lake graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
Get the full legal assistant/paralegal details for University Of Houston Clear Lake
Harper College came in at #20 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 38 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal assistant/paralegal program make about $43,980 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at Harper College
Edison State College landed the #21 spot for legal assistant/paralegal this year. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Edison State College awarded about 88 legal assistant/paralegal degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Edison State College generally make around $52,597. Edison State College graduates carry a median of $14,624 in student loans.
Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at Edison State College
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 37 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Cuyahoga Community College District earn around $39,394 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,636.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Cuyahoga Community College District
National University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. National University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from National University generally make around $69,080. Typical student debt for the program is $30,426.
Read more about the legal assistant/paralegal program at National University
Hamline University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Hamline University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 legal assistant/paralegal students who graduated with this degree at Hamline University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Hamline University earn around $40,297 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal assistant/paralegal from Hamline University
Suffolk University came in at #25 for legal assistant/paralegal this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Suffolk University graduates 61% of students within six years. About 15 legal assistant/paralegal degrees were awarded at Suffolk University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal assistant/paralegal degree from Suffolk University earn around $57,261 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,670.
See the full legal assistant/paralegal program report for Suffolk University
Rest of the Top 50 Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
These schools also placed among the best for legal assistant/paralegal this year:
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Legal Assistant/Paralegal Related Rankings by Major
Explore other rankings in majors related to Legal Assistant/Paralegal. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 530 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).