2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Missouri
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for legal professions students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Professions Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in legal professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Legal Professions Schools
Saint Louis Community College earned the #1 spot for value among legal professions schools in Missouri. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $6,990 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $6,500. Early-career legal professions graduates make about $31,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Metropolitan Community College Kansas City one of the best values for legal professions. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, with out-of-state students paying around $9,600. Students borrow a median of $12,281 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City generally make around $46,660. Set against $12,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in legal professions will find it at Missouri Western State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,545, with out-of-state students paying around $18,455. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete the legal professions program here. Legal Professions graduates of Missouri Western State University earn a median of $41,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,362 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Kansas City earned it the #4 place for legal professions. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,766. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #5 place for legal professions. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the legal professions program here. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #6 position for value in legal professions this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for legal professions graduates is $21,818. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,791. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis placed #7 among the best values for legal professions. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $59,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
Webster University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Legal Professions graduates of Webster University earn a median of $57,152 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for legal professions value this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Legal Professions graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $71,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
More Legal Professions Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 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.
