2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in North Carolina
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal professions education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value legal professions schools.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal professions degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Leading the list is Central Piedmont Community College, our #1 best value for legal professions in North Carolina. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,861. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $39,663. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, while out-of-state students pay about $7,531. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,408. Legal Professions graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $46,293 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johnston Community College earned it the #3 place for legal professions. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. In-state tuition and fees average $2,756, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $9,490. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $41,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Piedmont Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Polkton, South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,630. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $10,098 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of South Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,098 median debt.
Cape Fear Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,748, while out-of-state students pay about $8,892. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $12,388. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,889. That is a strong return on a $12,388 median debt.
Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Students borrow a median of $16,702 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #7 among the best values for legal professions. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $81,794. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Davidson County Community College came in at #8 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,980 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,588. Students borrow a median of $16,693 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Davidson County Community College generally make around $35,625. Set against $16,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Carolina Community College placed #9 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,512, while out-of-state students pay about $8,656. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $7,125. Legal Professions graduates of Coastal Carolina Community College earn a median of $37,831 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Guilford Technical Community College landed the #10 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,320, compared with $7,696 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,501. Legal Professions graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of $36,124 early in their careers. Set against $20,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Meredith College came in at #11 for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,630. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $27,176. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Meredith College generally make around $40,694. That is a strong return on a $27,176 median debt. Meredith College admits about 74% of applicants.
North Carolina Central University landed the #12 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,699, while out-of-state students pay about $19,735. Students borrow a median of $31,173 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Campbell University placed #13 among the best values for legal professions. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. Students from in state pay about $41,600 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Campbell University earn a median of $60,334 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Wake Forest University landed the #14 spot for legal professions value this year. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $86,344. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 22%.
Duke University placed #15 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $13,296. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $211,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University placed #16 among the best values for legal professions. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,958. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $57,581. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. Elon University admits about 66% of applicants.
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 · 31 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.
