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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Legal Research (Income $30-$48k)

103 Ranked Colleges
8,483 Degrees Awarded
$41,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master's For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 9,738 people earned their degree in legal research, making the major the 89th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, legal research graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,635 and had an average of $65,122 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 8,483 legal research graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 103 colleges that offered a degree in legal research. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent legal research programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the legal research program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree legal research students whose families make $30-$48k.

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 178 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard also made our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Harvard University Legal Research Report

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 82 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree legal research students whose families make $30-$48k list, Stanford has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011.

Read full report on Legal Research at Stanford University

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal research students in 2019-2020.

UPenn also made our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Pennsylvania

#4

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 267 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #5 spot in our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Full Northwestern Legal Research Report

#5

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 82 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree legal research students whose families make $30-$48k list, UChicago has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548.

Read more about Legal Research at UChicago

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal research degrees to 306 students in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #4 spot in our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194.

Read full report on Legal Research at Columbia

#7

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. UF is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 107 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree legal research students whose families make $30-$48k list, UF has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Florida

#8

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

Washington University in St Louis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal research degrees to 306 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562.

Full WUSTL Legal Research Report

#9

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#15 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 66 masters’s legal research degrees to qualified students.

Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt are $50,624, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Research at Vanderbilt University

#10

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Georgetown is a fairly large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 648 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Georgetown also made our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Research at Georgetown

#11

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s legal research degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Read full report on Legal Research at U-M

#12

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#17 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 50 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia - Main Campus are $32,394.

Full University of Virginia Legal Research Report

#13

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#12 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 330 masters’s legal research degrees to qualified students.

UC Berkeley also took the #12 spot in our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Research at University of California - Berkeley

#14

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 31 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Notre Dame Legal Research Report

#15

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#25 in overall quality

Wake Forest University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 47 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Wake Forest University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wake Forest University are $39,216, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wake Forest University Legal Research Report

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 39 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Read full report on Legal Research at UW - Madison

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 95 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also made our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#18

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#18 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 208 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Research at University of California - Los Angeles

#19

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 240 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston U also took the #8 spot in our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Research at Boston U

#20

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 79 degrees to qualified masters’s legal research students in 2019-2020.

Emory did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Legal Research Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Emory University are $44,676.

Full Emory University Legal Research Report

#21

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #21, Northeastern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal research degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Research at Northeastern University

#22

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida State University is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 80 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Florida State Legal Research Report

With a ranking of #23, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal research students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Irvine Legal Research Report

#24

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 43 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Research at Indiana University - Bloomington

#25

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #25, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Research Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 52 masters’s legal research degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read full report on Legal Research at UMN Twin Cities

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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