2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Illinois
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal professions education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value legal professions schools.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal professions degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned the #1 spot for value among legal professions schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $8,093 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $33,073. That is a strong return on a $8,093 median debt.
Lewis And Clark Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,602. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.
Elgin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harper College earned it the #4 place for legal professions. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Harper College earn a median of $43,980 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at College Of Dupage, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,625 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $40,429. That is a strong return on a $21,625 median debt.
College Of Lake County ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $14,348. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,994. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #8 position for value in legal professions this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $53,344. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Mchenry County College placed #9 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $7,440. Legal Professions graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #10 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $62,322. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #11 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,778. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $84,855 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $57,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Chicago earned the #13 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $199,603 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Illinois State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $49,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #15 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $40,340. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $26,774. Legal Professions graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $73,249 early in their careers. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Roosevelt University placed #17 among the best values for legal professions. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,986 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. That is a strong return on a $15,986 median debt. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Maccormac College earned the #18 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Maccormac College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,700. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Maccormac College generally make around $43,061. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College came in at #19 for value in legal professions this year. Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Rockford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,699. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,834 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earn a median of $35,289 early in their careers. Set against $20,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwestern University placed #20 among the best values for legal professions. 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. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $16,616. Legal Professions graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $129,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University earned the #21 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $25,310. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $68,344. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #22 position for value in legal professions 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 graduates carry a median of $35,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $97,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Legal Professions 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 · 40 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.
