Legal Professions is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 975 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for legal professions students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked Vanderbilt University the best school in the country for a degree in legal professions. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 215 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $156,307 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
Read more about the legal professions program at Vanderbilt University
Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal professions, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Illinois State University
Students looking for a strong legal professions program will find one at Auburn University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 66 legal professions degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803.
Get the full legal professions details for Auburn University
Drake University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 146 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Drake University earn around $65,618 in the first couple years of their career. Drake University graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Drake University
University Of Miami is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal professions, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of Miami awarded about 610 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $75,742 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Miami
Temple University landed the #6 spot for legal professions this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 346 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Temple University earn around $102,816 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal professions program at Temple University
University Of California Berkeley placed #7 among the best legal professions schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish 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. Students who receive their legal professions degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $60,141 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,723.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of California Berkeley
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 381 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $52,016. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $17,383 in student loans.
See the full legal professions program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #9 among the best legal professions schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 369 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $48,562 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,980 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
American University landed the #10 spot for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. American University awarded about 563 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from American University generally make around $65,891. Typical student debt for the program is $24,375.
Get the full legal professions details for American University
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #11 position for legal professions this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 12 legal professions degrees were awarded at Thomas Jefferson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $64,243. Thomas Jefferson University graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans.
Get the full legal professions details for Thomas Jefferson University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #12 spot for legal professions this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 250 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $47,310 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,258 to complete this degree.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University At Buffalo earned the #13 position for legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 231 legal professions degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from University At Buffalo earn around $64,220 in the first couple years of their career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans.
Read more about the legal professions program at University At Buffalo
Samford University landed the #14 spot for legal professions this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Birmingham. Samford University graduates 77% of students within six years. About 182 legal professions degrees were awarded at Samford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Samford University earn around $62,786 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal professions details for Samford University
Amherst College placed #15 among the best legal professions schools. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Amherst College awarded about 23 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Amherst College earn around $59,271 in the first couple years of their career. Amherst College graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans.
Get the full legal professions details for Amherst College
Grand Valley State University placed #16 among the best legal professions schools. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. Grand Valley State University awarded about 24 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Grand Valley State University earn around $40,778 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Grand Valley State University
University Of Arizona ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 545 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from University Of Arizona earn around $47,571 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,937 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in legal professions from University Of Arizona
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #18 spot for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 87 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $36,181 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Tacoma. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 27 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $39,558 in their early career. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates carry a median of $17,383 in student loans.
Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Winona State University landed the #20 spot for legal professions this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 legal professions degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $53,109. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete this degree.
Get the full legal professions details for Winona State University
Belmont University landed the #21 spot for legal professions this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 133 legal professions degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Belmont University earn around $58,486 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
See the full legal professions program report for Belmont University
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #22 spot for legal professions this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 352 legal professions degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $64,129 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,963.
Read more about the legal professions program at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Dickinson College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. Dickinson College graduates 80% of students within six years. About 14 legal professions degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Dickinson College earn around $39,937 in the first couple years of their career. Dickinson College graduates carry a median of $19,014 in student loans.
More information about a degree in legal professions from Dickinson College
Saint John Fisher College landed the #24 spot for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Saint John Fisher College graduates 74% of students within six years. About 20 legal professions degrees were awarded at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Saint John Fisher College earn around $55,630 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,086.
Read more about the legal professions program at Saint John Fisher College
Stevenson University landed the #25 spot for legal professions this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Owings Mills. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Stevenson University in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Stevenson University earn a median of $46,661 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the legal professions program at Stevenson University
Rest of the Top 50 Legal Professions Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s legal professions ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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).
