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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Legal Professions Schools in Illinois

7 Colleges in the United States
3,296 Legal Professions Degrees Awarded
$61,832 Avg Early-Career Salary

Legal Professions degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best legal professions schools.

What’s on this page:

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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the legal professions degrees they offer, see the list below.

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for legal professions. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 281 legal professions degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $199,603. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854. Get the full legal professions details for University Of Chicago

2

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal professions, ranking #2. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 292 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $84,855 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. See the full legal professions program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3

Northwestern University came in at #3 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. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 670 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Legal Professions graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $129,775 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. See the full legal professions program report for Northwestern University

4

Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in legal professions, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 14 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Illinois State University earn around $49,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896. See the full legal professions program report for Illinois State University

5

Loyola University Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 748 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $97,758. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal professions program at Loyola University Chicago

6

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #6 for legal professions this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 301 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago 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

7

Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 336 legal professions degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $73,249. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in legal professions from Illinois Institute Of Technology

8

College Of Lake County ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. There were roughly 34 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at College Of Lake County in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $45,094. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree. See the full legal professions program report for College Of Lake County

9
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College placed #9 among the best legal professions schools. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. About 38 legal professions degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Harper College earn around $43,980 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963. More information about a degree in legal professions from Harper College

10

Lewis And Clark Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best legal professions schools. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. There were roughly 37 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. Lewis And Clark Community College graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. See the full legal professions program report for Lewis And Clark Community College

11

Southwestern Illinois College earned the #11 position for legal professions this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. There were roughly 11 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $42,994. Typical student debt for the program is $14,348. See the full legal professions program report for Southwestern Illinois College

12

University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #12 position for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. University Of Illinois At Springfield awarded about 26 legal professions degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $53,344 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. See the full legal professions program report for University Of Illinois At Springfield

13

Roosevelt University landed the #13 spot for legal professions this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roosevelt University graduates 46% of students within six years. About 10 legal professions degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $50,101 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,986. Get the full legal professions details for Roosevelt University

14

Elgin Community College placed #14 among the best legal professions schools. This large public university is located in the city of Elgin. There were roughly 13 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the legal professions program make about $43,975 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,727. Read more about the legal professions program at Elgin Community College

15
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #15 position for legal professions this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 201 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $68,344. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. Read more about the legal professions program at Depaul University

16
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage came in at #16 for legal professions this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. There were roughly 21 legal professions students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $40,429. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $21,625 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal professions from College Of Dupage

17

City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College placed #17 among the best legal professions schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. About 30 legal professions degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn a median of $33,073 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,093. Get the full legal professions details for City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College

18
Mchenry County College crest
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL

Mchenry County College earned the #18 position for legal professions this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. About 18 legal professions degrees were awarded at Mchenry County College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Typical student debt for the program is $7,440. Read more about the legal professions program at Mchenry County College

19
Maccormac College crest
Maccormac College
Chicago, IL

Maccormac College earned the #19 position for legal professions this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 16 legal professions degrees were awarded at Maccormac College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Maccormac College generally make around $43,061. Typical student debt for the program is $24,750. Get the full legal professions details for Maccormac College

20

Northern Illinois University came in at #20 for legal professions this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 94 legal professions degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, legal professions degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $57,561. Typical student debt for the program is $25,209. See the full legal professions program report for Northern Illinois University

21

Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #21 among the best legal professions schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 93 legal professions degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their legal professions degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $40,340 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in legal professions from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

22

Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College landed the #22 spot for legal professions this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit university. About 12 legal professions degrees were awarded at Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College in the most recent year. Legal Professions graduates of Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earn a median of $35,289 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,834 to complete this degree. Read more about the legal professions program at Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College

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Notes and References

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 · 40 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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