2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Ohio
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Ohio
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 Cuyahoga Community College District, our #1 best value for legal professions in Ohio. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,636 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #2 place for legal professions. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Stark State College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,349. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Cincinnati Clermont College one of the best values for legal professions. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $13,871. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,525. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $39,106. Set against $19,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #6 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $25,347. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $57,386 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $22,938. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $77,868. That is a strong return on a $22,938 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Cleveland State University placed #8 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Students borrow a median of $26,336 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $64,805. That is a strong return on a $26,336 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #9 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $38,981. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Eastern Gateway Community College landed the #10 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Steubenville, Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,225 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,071. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $10,642 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Eastern Gateway Community College earn a median of $37,052 early in their careers. Set against $10,642 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Toledo placed #11 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $27,605 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $39,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for legal professions. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $25,258 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $46,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,258 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Capital University landed the #13 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $43,234. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $28,269. Legal Professions graduates of Capital University earn a median of $62,010 early in their careers. Set against $28,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Northern University placed #14 among the best values for legal professions. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. Students from in state pay about $39,600 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $55,402 early in their careers. Set against $26,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Dayton landed the #15 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,140. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $82,071. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Case Western Reserve University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $70,183 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
Oberlin College landed the #17 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,366. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $25,146 early in their careers. Set against $24,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 46 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.
