2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Pennsylvania
[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 40 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Delaware County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Students borrow a median of $14,866 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $40,102. Set against $14,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lehigh Carbon Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $14,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $39,957. That is a strong return on a $14,450 median debt.
Community College Of Allegheny County came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $47,420 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,263 median debt.
Bucks County Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $16,052 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $37,711. That is a strong return on a $16,052 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg one of the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,975 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $13,337. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $40,240. Set against $13,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Peirce College landed the #6 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Peirce College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,060. Students borrow a median of $47,341 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Peirce College earn a median of $46,406 early in their careers. Set against $47,341 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Philadelphia landed the #7 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,632, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,812. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $37,988. Set against $20,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #8 for value in legal professions this year. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $47,295 ten years out. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #9 for value in legal professions this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Central Pennsylvania College landed the #10 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the suburb of Summerdale, Central Pennsylvania College is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,854 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $40,957. Legal Professions graduates of Central Pennsylvania College earn a median of $40,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 18%.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #11 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,355. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $64,243. That is a strong return on a $32,256 median debt. Thomas Jefferson University admits about 81% of applicants.
Institute Of Medical Careers earned the #12 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Pittsburgh, Institute Of Medical Careers is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $18,889 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $26,365.
Temple University came in at #13 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $102,816. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #14 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $24,872 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $64,075 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #15 for value in legal professions this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $157,243 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Widener University Main Campus earned the #16 position for value in legal professions this year. Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,730. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $26,561. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus generally make around $55,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Dickinson College came in at #17 for value in legal professions this year. Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,650. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $19,014 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Duquesne University placed #19 among the best values for legal professions. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. Students borrow a median of $26,297 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $59,904. Set against $26,297 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Students borrow a median of $27,978 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $62,676. Set against $27,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Villanova University placed #21 among the best values for legal professions. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $74,646. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
More Legal Professions Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
