2026 Best Value Legal Professions (Other) Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Legal Professions (Other)](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/other-legal-professions-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value legal professions (other) schools.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions (Other) Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions (other), balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Professions (Other) Schools
Leading the list is Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, our #1 best value for legal professions (other) in the Great Lakes Region. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions (other) graduates is $23,146. Soon after graduation, legal professions (other) degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $56,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Global earned it the #2 place for legal professions (other). Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions (Other) graduates carry a median of $36,778 in student loans. Legal Professions (Other) graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $104,329 early in their careers. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions (other) will find it at University Of Detroit Mercy, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. Typical student debt for legal professions (other) graduates is $29,053. Legal Professions (Other) graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $76,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,053 median debt. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Western Michigan University one of the best values for legal professions (other). Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for legal professions (other) graduates is $27,981. Legal Professions (Other) graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions (other) will find it at Michigan State University, which ranked #5. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the legal professions (other) program here. Early-career legal professions (other) graduates make about $54,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University placed #6 among the best values for legal professions (other). Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal professions (other) graduates is $16,616. Legal Professions (Other) graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $69,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #7 position for value in legal professions (other) this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Legal Professions (Other) graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career legal professions (other) 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 legal professions (other). Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Legal Professions (Other) graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Legal Professions (Other) graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Oberlin College placed #9 among the best values for legal professions (other). Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. Students from in state pay about $67,366 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions (Other) graduates carry a median of $24,759 in student loans. Legal Professions (Other) graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $25,146 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.