DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 5
DEBUG: ROOT LEVEL MAJOR detected (no cip4), lowering min_relevance to 0.5
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.5, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Legal Studies (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Legal Studies (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Criminal Justice & Law Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Criminal Justice & Law Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Legal Services & Studies (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Legal Services & Studies (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Legal Services (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Legal Services (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Paralegal (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Paralegal (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 5
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 5 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.5
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 5
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 1 offers with relevance >= 1.0
2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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 Suffolk County Community College, our #1 best value for legal professions in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nassau Community College earned it the #2 place for legal professions. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $32,464 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned it the #3 place for legal professions. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $14,563. Legal Professions graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $34,675 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,563 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,500. Legal Professions graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $32,649 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Laguardia Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,358. Set against $8,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
ADBLOCK #101
Essex County College came in at #6 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,472 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $37,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #7 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $10,182. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $18,038. Legal Professions graduates of The Community College Of Baltimore County earn a median of $52,440 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Burlington County College landed the #8 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $12,488. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Burlington County College generally make around $52,240. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Raritan Valley Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,584. Students borrow a median of $9,668 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Set against $9,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Erie Community College landed the #10 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $14,894. Legal Professions graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg placed #21 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,975, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $13,337. Legal Professions graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $40,240 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,337 median debt.
Prince Georges Community College landed the #22 spot for legal professions value this year. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,034, compared with $8,762 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $13,949 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Prince Georges Community College earn a median of $56,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,949 median debt.
University Of Maryland University College earned the #23 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Students borrow a median of $31,017 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $54,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montclair State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $25,000. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $27,613. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Community College Of Philadelphia earned the #25 position for value in legal professions this year. Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,632, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,812 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $37,988. That is a strong return on a $20,812 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in legal professions:
Narrow Legal Professions Schools by State