2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Michigan
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Leading the list is Henry Ford Community College, our #1 best value for legal professions in Michigan. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Students borrow a median of $18,876 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Washtenaw Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $42,262. Set against $14,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Macomb Community College one of the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. 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. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $38,758. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #5 place for legal professions. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $170,537 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Wayne County Community College District earned the #6 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,820. Legal Professions graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne State University placed #7 among the best values for legal professions. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $70,500. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Baker College Of Flint placed #8 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,000 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $30,688 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Baker College Of Flint earn a median of $46,774 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Baker College Of Flint admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Detroit Mercy came in at #9 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,946. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $29,053. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $63,731 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,053 median debt. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $40,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #11 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $28,781. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $34,010. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Western Michigan University placed #12 among the best values for legal professions. 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 graduates is $27,981. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $48,966. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Michigan State University came in at #13 for value in legal professions this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,753 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $40,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
More Legal Professions Rankings
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
