by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
College Factual analyzed 236 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value legal professions schools.
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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.
For return on investment in legal professions, no school beat Florida State College At Jacksonville this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,139. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $46,748. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Petersburg College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Students borrow a median of $32,383 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $43,499. That is a strong return on a $32,383 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Piedmont Community College earned it the #3 place for legal professions. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,663 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trident Technical College earned it the #4 place for legal professions. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Hillsborough Community College one of the best values for legal professions. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Students borrow a median of $24,018 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $41,694 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,018 median debt.
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J Sargeant Reynolds Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,250. Legal Professions graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $38,066 early in their careers. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College placed #7 among the best values for legal professions. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $46,293 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gadsden State Community College landed the #8 spot for legal professions value this year. Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gadsden. Students from in state pay about $4,272 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $34,710. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Johnston Community College came in at #9 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $41,278. That is a strong return on a $9,490 median debt.
Miami Dade College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,950 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,950 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,616. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $44,673. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
Indian River State College came in at #12 for value in legal professions this year. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $44,082. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
York Technical College landed the #13 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,036, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $10,647 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from York Technical College generally make around $27,997. Set against $10,647 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #14 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,516, compared with $6,084 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Southern Crescent Technical College generally make around $45,062. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.
Midlands Technical College landed the #15 spot for legal professions value this year. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Students borrow a median of $21,320 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Midlands Technical College generally make around $37,615. Set against $21,320 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hinds Community College came in at #16 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $16,385. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Hinds Community College generally make around $34,003. Set against $16,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Florida placed #17 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $106,059. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
South Piedmont Community College came in at #18 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the rural area of Polkton, South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,630. Students borrow a median of $10,098 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of South Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. Set against $10,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
John Tyler Community College landed the #19 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,262. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,623. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
Cape Fear Community College earned the #20 position for value in legal professions this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $12,388. Legal Professions graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Itawamba Community College placed #21 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, with out-of-state students paying around $5,820. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $10,942 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $40,832. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus Technical College placed #22 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,052, with out-of-state students paying around $7,262. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,845 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $37,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Greenville Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,495, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Greenville Technical College generally make around $39,026. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College earned the #24 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $10,985 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Madisonville Community College earn a median of $41,084 early in their careers. Set against $10,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #25 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,276 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $16,702 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $38,094. Set against $16,702 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools also delivered strong value for legal professions this year:
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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 · 236 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 35 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.