2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Legal Professions](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong legal professions education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 79 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Our analysis ranked Metropolitan Community College Area the best value for a degree in legal professions in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Saint Louis Community College, which ranked #2. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, compared with $6,990 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $31,842. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #3 spot this year. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $12,281. Legal Professions graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. Set against $12,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Hennepin Community College earned it the #4 place for legal professions. North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. In-state tuition and fees average $5,061. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $18,625 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of $48,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,625 median debt.
Kirkwood 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 Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Students borrow a median of $25,083 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,083 median debt.
Oglala Lakota College earned the #6 position for value in legal professions this year. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kyle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,684. Graduates go on to earn a median of $22,517 ten years after entry.
Inver Hills Community College earned the #7 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Inver Hills Community College earn a median of $49,694 early in their careers. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #8 for value in legal professions this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $49,137 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri Western State University came in at #9 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,545 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,455. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $24,362. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $41,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnson County Community College placed #10 among the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $19,367. Legal Professions graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $44,921 early in their careers. Set against $19,367 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #11 spot for legal professions value this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $23,741. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $60,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #12 for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $21,577. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $77,642. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Washburn University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,945 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $60,606 early in their careers. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Superior College earned the #14 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $17,156. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $42,543. Set against $17,156 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Kansas earned the #15 position for value in legal professions this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $70,180. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #16 position for value in legal professions this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $46,503. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Winona State University landed the #17 spot for legal professions value this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete the legal professions program here. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $53,109. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #18 spot for legal professions value this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $66,354. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $24,624 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $46,572 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,624 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Rasmussen College Minnesota earned the #20 position for value in legal professions this year. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,199. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $28,336. Legal Professions graduates of Rasmussen College Minnesota earn a median of $37,457 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Dakota placed #21 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $25,110. Legal Professions graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $61,451 early in their careers. Set against $25,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Hamline University came in at #22 for value in legal professions this year. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $50,004. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $24,050 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $40,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #23 spot for legal professions value this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $53,791. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #24 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $78,560. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of South Dakota earned the #25 position for value in legal professions this year. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, with out-of-state students paying around $12,942. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $26,322 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $51,566 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Legal Professions Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for legal professions this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 79 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
