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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Legal Professions Schools in the Great Lakes Region

20 Colleges in the United States
8,988 Legal Professions Degrees Awarded
$56,555 Avg Early-Career Salary

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 150 schools to find the best for legal professions students.

What’s on this page:

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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall legal professions education in the Great Lakes Region.

1

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in legal professions. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 358 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $170,537 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137. More information about a degree in legal professions from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for legal professions. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 281 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $199,603 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Chicago

3

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal professions, ranking #3. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 292 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $84,855. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778. Get the full legal professions details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

4

Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in legal professions, landing the #4 spot this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 670 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $129,775 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. Get the full legal professions details for Northwestern University

5

A rank of #5 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for legal professions. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. 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. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans. Get the full legal professions details for Illinois State University

6

Loyola University Chicago came in at #6 for legal professions this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 748 legal professions degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $97,758 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,000. See the full legal professions program report for Loyola University Chicago

7

University Of Notre Dame landed the #7 spot for legal professions this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 201 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $103,733 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Notre Dame

8

Grand Valley State University landed the #8 spot for legal professions this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 legal professions degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent 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. Get the full legal professions details for Grand Valley State University

9

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #9 for legal professions this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 301 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $62,322 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Illinois At Chicago

10

University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #10 position for legal professions this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 369 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $48,562 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,980 in student loans. See the full legal professions program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

11

Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 336 legal professions degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Illinois Institute Of Technology earn around $73,249 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Get the full legal professions details for Illinois Institute Of Technology

12

University Of Dayton landed the #12 spot for legal professions this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. University Of Dayton awarded about 153 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $82,071 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal professions program at University Of Dayton

13

Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #13 for legal professions this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 207 legal professions degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $77,868. Typical student debt for the program is $22,938. Read more about the legal professions program at Ohio State University Main Campus

14

Case Western Reserve University landed the #14 spot for legal professions this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 249 legal professions degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $70,183 in the first couple years of their career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Get the full legal professions details for Case Western Reserve University

15

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 14 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $45,767 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,306. See the full legal professions program report for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

16

College Of Lake County came in at #16 for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. About 34 legal professions degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from College Of Lake County earn around $45,094 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Read more about the legal professions program at College Of Lake County

17

Fox Valley Technical College placed #17 among the best legal professions schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. About 23 legal professions degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $44,020 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,319. More information about a degree in legal professions from Fox Valley Technical College

18

Western Michigan University earned the #18 position for legal professions this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Western Michigan University awarded about 17 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in legal professions from Western Michigan University

19
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College came in at #19 for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. About 38 legal professions degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $43,980. Harper College graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal professions from Harper College

20

Indiana University Bloomington came in at #20 for legal professions this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 237 legal professions degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $75,186. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Get the full legal professions details for Indiana University Bloomington

21

Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #21 for legal professions this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cleveland. Cuyahoga Community College District awarded about 56 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $39,394. Typical student debt for the program is $14,636. Read more about the legal professions program at Cuyahoga Community College District

22

University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #22 position for legal professions this year. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $56,998 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,677 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in legal professions from University Of Wisconsin Platteville

23

Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #23 for legal professions this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. About 37 legal professions degrees were awarded at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $41,313 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in legal professions from Lewis And Clark Community College

24
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University earned the #24 position for legal professions this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 392 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $40,626 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,753 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal professions program at Michigan State University

25

Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. About 35 legal professions degrees were awarded at Milwaukee Area Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. Milwaukee Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Get the full legal professions details for Milwaukee Area Technical College

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong legal professions education:

26
27
28
29
Oberlin College crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH
30
31
32
33
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI
34
35
36
37
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
38
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL
39
40
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL
41
42
43
44
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
45
Mchenry County College crest
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL
46
47
48
49
50

The following schools placed in the top tier for legal professions:

Rank School Location
#56 Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN

Narrow Legal Professions Schools by State

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 150 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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