by our College Data Analytics Team
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal professions education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for legal professions students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal professions degrees they offer, see the list below.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #1 spot for value among legal professions schools in Indiana. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $15,990. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $34,981. That is a strong return on a $15,990 median debt.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot 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, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,963 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $63,795. Set against $21,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the best values for legal professions. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $75,186 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $36,418. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $41,582. Set against $36,418 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana Institute Of Technology earned it the #5 place for legal professions. Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,361. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $36,380 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $56,185. Set against $36,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
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University Of Notre Dame earned the #6 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $103,733. Set against $19,891 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.