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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Legal Research

154 Ranked Colleges
10,421 Degrees Awarded
$68,162 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Legal Research Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2021-2022, 12,336 people earned their degree in legal research, making the major the 114th most popular in the United States. In , legal research graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $66,544 and had an average of $65,720 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 10,421 legal research graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major” ranking, we looked at 154 colleges that offer a degree in legal research. That schools that top this list have a program in legal research in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree legal research students.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Western School of Law. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major. California Western is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 87 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Legal Research at California Western School of Law

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of New Hampshire - Franklin Pierce School of Law. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major. University of New Hampshire - Franklin Pierce School of Law is a small school located in Concord, New Hampshire that handed out 27 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UNH Franklin Pierce Legal Research Report

3
Thomas Jefferson School of Law crest
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
San Diego, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Thomas Jefferson School of Law. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major list. Thomas Jefferson School of Law is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Thomas Jefferson School of Law Legal Research Report

4
Albany Law crest
Albany Law School
Albany, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Albany Law School. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major. Albany, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal research degrees to 35 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Legal Research at Albany Law

5

Out of the 154 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major that were part of this year’s ranking, National Paralegal College landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 30 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full National Paralegal College Legal Research Report

6
VLS crest
Vermont Law School
South Royalton, Vermont

Vermont Law School came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. Vermont Law School is a small private not-for-profit school situated in South Royalton, Vermont. It awarded 28 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Legal Research at Vermont Law School

7

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Hastings College of Law did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major list. Located in San Francisco, California, this small public school handed out 34 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal research students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full University of California - Hastings College of Law Legal Research Report

8

Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major list. Located in Lansing, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal research students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Legal Research at Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School

9

Washington University in St Louis came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. WUSTL is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 418 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Legal Research at Washington University in St Louis

10
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking, coming in at #10. Georgetown is a large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 676 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Research at Georgetown University

11
Pepperdine crest
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

Pepperdine University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. Located in Malibu, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 129 diplomas to qualified masters’s legal research students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Legal Research at Pepperdine

12
St. Mary's crest
St. Mary's University
San Antonio, Texas

St. Mary’s University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. St. Mary’s University is a small school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 48 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Mary’s Legal Research Report

13
Brooklyn Law crest
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn Law School landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. Brooklyn Law School is a private not-for-profit institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Research at Brooklyn Law School

14

With a ranking of #14, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 273 masters’s legal research degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Legal Research at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

15
Seton Hall crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, New Jersey

Seton Hall University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in South Orange, New Jersey, and it awarded 66 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Seton Hall Legal Research Report

16
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Wake Forest University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s legal research degrees to 70 students in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Wake Forest University Legal Research Report

17
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 118 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Legal Research at Loyola University Chicago

18
STU crest
St. Thomas University
Miami Gardens, Florida

St. Thomas University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Miami Gardens, Florida, and it awarded 18 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Research at St. Thomas University

19
Loyola New Orleans crest
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

With a ranking of #19, Loyola University New Orleans did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major list. Loyola University New Orleans is a small school located in New Orleans, Louisiana that handed out 12 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Loyola New Orleans Legal Research Report

19
New York Law School crest
New York Law School
New York, New York

With a ranking of #19, New York Law School did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major list. New York Law School is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 5 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full New York Law School Legal Research Report

21
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia

American University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking, coming in at #21. The American University is a fairly large school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 128 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Research at The American University

22
Hamline crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking, coming in at #22. Hamline is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Research at Hamline

23
Lewis and Clark College crest
Lewis & Clark College
Portland, Oregon

Lewis & Clark College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking. This small school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 22 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Lewis and Clark College Legal Research Report

24
University of Tulsa crest
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #24, University of Tulsa did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major list. University of Tulsa is a small school located in Tulsa, Oklahoma that handed out 13 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Legal Research at University of Tulsa

25

University of Maryland - Baltimore did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Legal Research Major ranking, coming in at #25. This medium-sized school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 43 masters’s legal research degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Maryland - Baltimore Legal Research Report

Notes and References

References

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