2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1

Lewis And Clark Community College
Godfrey, IL

Lewis And Clark Community College earned the #1 spot for value among legal professions schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $41,313. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.

2

Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #2 place for legal professions. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $39,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Chicago, IL

A rank of #3 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College one of the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $33,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI

Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Oakland Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,083 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,262. That is a strong return on a $14,083 median debt.

5

Henry Ford Community College
Dearborn, MI

A rank of #5 makes Henry Ford Community College one of the best values for legal professions. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Students borrow a median of $18,876 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,247. That is a strong return on a $18,876 median debt.

6

Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $43,980. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7

Macomb Community College
Warren, MI

Macomb Community College placed #7 among the best values for legal professions. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,862. Legal Professions graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.

8

Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, MI

Washtenaw Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

9

College Of Lake County
Grayslake, IL

College Of Lake County landed the #9 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,785. Legal Professions graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $45,094 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

10

Elgin Community College
Elgin, IL

Elgin Community College earned the #10 position for value in legal professions this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

11

Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH

Sinclair Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage placed #12 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,625 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $40,429 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

13

Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, IL

Southwestern Illinois College came in at #13 for value in legal professions this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $42,994 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,348 median debt.

14

Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College placed #14 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $15,990 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $34,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,990 median debt.

15

University Of Illinois At Springfield
Springfield, IL

University Of Illinois At Springfield landed the #15 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $24,925. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $53,344. That is a strong return on a $24,925 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

16

Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $38,325. Set against $18,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

17

Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL

Mchenry County College placed #17 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

18

Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, WI

Fox Valley Technical College placed #18 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

19

Columbus State Community College
Columbus, OH

Columbus State Community College earned the #19 position for value in legal professions this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,041. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

20

Wayne County Community College District
Detroit, MI

Wayne County Community College District earned the #20 position for value in legal professions this year. Wayne County Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $48,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

21

University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
Batavia, OH

University Of Cincinnati Clermont College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,525 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $39,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

22

Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Stark State College came in at #22 for value in legal professions this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.

23

University Of Illinois At Chicago
Chicago, IL

University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #23 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $62,322. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.

24

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #24 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,963 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $63,795 early in their careers. Set against $21,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.

25

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,137. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $170,537. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.