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2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region

14 Ranked Colleges
2,055 Degrees Awarded
$26,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Legal Professions is the 17th most popular major in the country with 61,993 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, legal professions graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,199 and had an average of $58,026 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 3,433 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,539 and $40,785 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,055 legal professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,701 and $106,703 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in legal professions. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent legal professions programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the legal professions program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region” 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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region.

#1

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Drake University landed the #1 spot on the list. Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 95 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree legal professions students list, Drake has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Drake University are $11,932, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at Drake University

#2

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Creighton University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region. This medium-sized school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 96 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Creighton also took the #4 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Creighton are $18,528, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Creighton University

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school awarded 128 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2019-2020.

UNL also made our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Legal Professions at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#4

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Dakota. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 67 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree legal professions students list, UND has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Dakota are $18,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UND Legal Professions Report

#5

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Dakota landed the #5 spot on the list. Vermillion, South Dakota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s legal professions degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

USD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Dakota are $12,637, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of South Dakota Legal Professions Report

#6

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

University of Kansas landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school awarded 109 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2019-2020.

KU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Kansas Legal Professions Report

#7

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 199 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree legal professions students list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read full report on Legal Professions at UMN Twin Cities

#8

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region ranking. UST MN is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 136 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

UST MN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Thomas Minnesota are $24,814.

Read full report on Legal Professions at University of St Thomas Minnesota

#9

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 134 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Iowa

#10

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Washburn University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Washburn University is located in Topeka, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 98 doctorate’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

Washburn University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Washburn University are $19,206.

Read full report on Legal Professions at Washburn University

#9 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 84 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193.

Read more about Legal Professions at University of Missouri - Columbia

#12

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#11 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 127 doctorate’s legal professions degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Legal Professions at UMKC

#13

Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

Mitchell Hamline School of Law did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Mitchell Hamline is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 331 doctorate’s legal professions degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree legal professions students list, Mitchell Hamline has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mitchell Hamline are $47,426, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Legal Professions at Mitchell Hamline School of Law

#14

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Washington University in St Louis came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Legal Professions Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 242 degrees to qualified doctorate’s legal professions students in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Legal Professions Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” 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.

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

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to The wub.

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