2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Virginia
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Virginia
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
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools in Virginia. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $38,066. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at John Tyler Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $11,262. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $36,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Virginia Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,427. Legal Professions graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $45,915 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tidewater Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,858 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Students borrow a median of $14,177 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $34,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George Mason University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $77,057. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Regent University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $37,747 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $41,908. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University came in at #7 for value in legal professions this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $40,966. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary earned the #8 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $77,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #9 spot for legal professions value this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $204,216 early in their careers. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Washington And Lee University placed #10 among the best values for legal professions. Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $68,045 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $20,074. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $77,253. Set against $20,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington And Lee University admits about 14% of applicants.
National College Salem landed the #11 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, National College Salem is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,716. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $27,930 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $27,900. That is a strong return on a $27,930 median debt.
Liberty University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,592 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $48,171. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Richmond placed #13 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,230. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $21,634. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $66,704 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,634 median debt. University Of Richmond admits about 22% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
