Legal Professions is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 975 schools to find the best for legal professions students.
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Choosing a Great Legal Professions School
The school you choose for legal professions can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Legal Professions Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Legal Professions Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked New York University the best school in the country for a degree in legal professions. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 1,017 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from New York University generally make around $167,839. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897.
Get the full legal professions details for New York University
Students looking for a strong legal professions program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #2. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 1,461 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Georgetown University earn around $101,439 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
Read more about the legal professions program at Georgetown University
Harvard University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 807 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $175,880 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Harvard University
Students looking for a strong legal professions program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #4. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 467 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $157,243. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal professions details for University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong legal professions program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 358 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $170,537 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #6 among the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 899 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $176,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
Get the full legal professions details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of California Berkeley placed #7 among the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 947 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $60,141 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,723.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of California Berkeley
University Of Chicago earned the #8 position for legal professions this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 281 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from University Of Chicago earn around $199,603 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of Chicago
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 330 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $204,216. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Stanford University earned the #10 position for legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 287 legal professions degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Stanford University earn around $162,001 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Stanford University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #11 for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 292 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $84,855 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Northwestern University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 670 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $129,775 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the legal professions program at Northwestern University
Cornell University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 400 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $213,356. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Cornell University
Boston University came in at #14 for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 517 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $113,736 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal professions details for Boston University
Illinois State University landed the #15 spot for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 14 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $49,660 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896.
Read more about the legal professions program at Illinois State University
Auburn University placed #16 among the best legal professions schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 66 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $55,422 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803.
Read more about the legal professions program at Auburn University
University Of California Los Angeles placed #17 among the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 658 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $91,845 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of California Los Angeles
Villanova University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Villanova University awarded about 303 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $74,646 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184.
Read more about the legal professions program at Villanova University
George Washington University placed #19 among the best legal professions schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 759 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $90,257 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
See the full legal professions program report for George Washington University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 409 legal professions degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
Read more about the legal professions program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of California Davis landed the #21 spot for legal professions this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 289 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $85,816 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of California Davis
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #22 for legal professions this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 431 legal professions degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $103,039 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal professions program at The University Of Texas At Austin
Duke University landed the #23 spot for legal professions this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 278 legal professions degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $211,190 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
Get the full legal professions details for Duke University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #24 spot for legal professions this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 208 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $81,794 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal professions from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Yale University earned the #25 position for legal professions this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. About 256 legal professions degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of Yale University earn a median of $139,244 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
See the full legal professions program report for Yale University
Rest of the Top 50 Legal Professions Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong legal professions education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 975 schools evaluated.
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).
