2026 Best Value Other Legal Professions & Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Other Legal Professions & Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/other-legal-professions-studies/legal-professions-and-studies-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other legal professions & studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value other legal professions & studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Other Legal Professions & Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other legal professions & studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Legal Professions & Studies Schools
For return on investment in other legal professions & studies, no school beat Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the other legal professions & studies program here. Soon after graduation, other legal professions & studies degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $56,930. That is a strong return on a $23,146 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value other legal professions & studies schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other legal professions & studies graduates is $36,778. Early-career other legal professions & studies graduates make about $104,329. That is a strong return on a $36,778 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in other legal professions & studies will find it at University Of Detroit Mercy, which ranked #3. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete the other legal professions & studies program here. Early-career other legal professions & studies graduates make about $76,755. That is a strong return on a $29,053 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
A rank of #4 makes Western Michigan University one of the best values for other legal professions & studies. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Other Legal Professions & Studies graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans. Other Legal Professions & Studies graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Michigan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other legal professions & studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Other Legal Professions & Studies graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Other Legal Professions & Studies graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Northwestern University placed #6 among the best values for other legal professions & studies. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the other legal professions & studies program here. Other Legal Professions & Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $69,797 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #7 spot for other legal professions & studies value this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Other Legal Professions & Studies graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career other legal professions & studies graduates make about $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
Case Western Reserve University placed #8 among the best values for other legal professions & studies. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. Other Legal Professions & Studies graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Early-career other legal professions & studies graduates make about $74,459. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Oberlin College earned the #9 position for value in other legal professions & studies this year. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,366 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete the other legal professions & studies program here. Early-career other legal professions & studies graduates make about $25,146. Set against $24,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 16 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.