Are you considering earning a degree in legal studies? This may be a good choice if you are interested in pursuing a career in either law or business. While many professions in this field require additional education and/or training, graduating from an accredited academic program is generally a good start.
Degrees of this type offer significant flexibility. Students learn to hone various theoretical, technical, and problem-solving skills, attributes that are valuable in nearly any workplace. As a result, there are numerous career paths available in law, criminal justice, business, and homeland security after graduation.
It’s important for prospective students to note that many of the most prominent positions require additional education. Common continuing education pathways include earning a master’s degree in criminal justice, business law, business administration, or homeland security. There are also graduate certificates available for students interested in pursuing careers as paralegals.
While job specifics will vary depending on the career chosen, legal studies professionals often assist in the legal process. Responsibilities tend to revolve around analytical thinking, conflict resolution, active listening, communication, and research. Other helpful skills include being well organized and capable of making decisions under pressure. Professionals in this field must also be able to read and write for extended periods of time.
Most careers related to legal studies require some level of higher education, which can be expensive. Employers generally expect candidates to have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree in legal studies is generally needed for masters of business administration (MBA) programs or law school.
Top 50 Affordable Legal Studies Colleges and Universities
1
Stanford University
Score: 92.55
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,484
- Out-of-State:$62,484
- Net Price: $18,279
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 18,283
- Undergrad Students: 8,049
- Graduate Students: 10,234
- Grads Salary: $116,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
2
University of California-Berkeley
Score: 81.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,850
- Out-of-State:$45,627
- Net Price: $19,257
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 45,307
- Undergrad Students: 32,479
- Graduate Students: 12,828
- Grads Salary: $97,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
3
Northwestern University
Score: 81.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,997
- Out-of-State:$65,997
- Net Price: $22,095
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- Total Enrollment: 23,161
- Undergrad Students: 8,993
- Graduate Students: 14,168
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
4
University of Pennsylvania
Score: 80.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,104
- Out-of-State:$66,104
- Net Price: $26,123
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 28,201
- Undergrad Students: 11,250
- Graduate Students: 16,951
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
5
Cornell University
Score: 80.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,014
- Out-of-State:$66,014
- Net Price: $26,060
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 25,898
- Undergrad Students: 15,735
- Graduate Students: 10,163
- Grads Salary: $93,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
6
University of California-Los Angeles
Score: 79.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,747
- Out-of-State:$44,524
- Net Price: $16,999
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 46,430
- Undergrad Students: 32,423
- Graduate Students: 14,007
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
7
Washington University in St. Louis
Score: 77.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,982
- Out-of-State:$62,982
- Net Price: $23,432
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 17,012
- Undergrad Students: 8,132
- Graduate Students: 8,880
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
8
University of Maryland
Score: 75.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,505
- Out-of-State:$40,306
- Net Price: $16,210
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 40,792
- Undergrad Students: 30,353
- Graduate Students: 10,439
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
9
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Score: 75.3
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,205
- Out-of-State:$40,603
- Net Price: $13,376
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 48,956
- Undergrad Students: 36,306
- Graduate Students: 12,650
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
10
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Score: 74.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,004
- Out-of-State:$34,501
- Net Price: $14,544
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 56,916
- Undergrad Students: 35,120
- Graduate Students: 21,796
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
11
University of Chicago
Score: 72.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,939
- Out-of-State:$66,939
- Net Price: $36,991
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 18,339
- Undergrad Students: 7,595
- Graduate Students: 10,744
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
12
University of California-Santa Cruz
Score: 70.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,560
- Out-of-State:$45,337
- Net Price: $17,975
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 77%
- Total Enrollment: 19,478
- Undergrad Students: 17,502
- Graduate Students: 1,976
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
13
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh
Score: 69.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,524
- Out-of-State:$39,890
- Net Price: $24,286
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 33,767
- Undergrad Students: 24,420
- Graduate Students: 9,347
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
14
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Score: 69.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,357
- Out-of-State:$39,293
- Net Price: $22,291
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 32,229
- Undergrad Students: 24,391
- Graduate Students: 7,838
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
15
Indiana University-Bloomington
Score: 68.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,790
- Out-of-State:$40,482
- Net Price: $16,234
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 47,005
- Undergrad Students: 35,660
- Graduate Students: 11,345
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
16
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto
Score: 68.37
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,760
- Out-of-State:$14,760
- Net Price: $18,306
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 75%
- Total Enrollment: 393
- Undergrad Students: 159
- Graduate Students: 234
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
17
The Pennsylvania State University
Score: 68.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,234
- Out-of-State:$40,188
- Net Price: $26,747
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 50,028
- Undergrad Students: 41,745
- Graduate Students: 8,283
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
18
University at Buffalo
Score: 67.04
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,782
- Out-of-State:$30,572
- Net Price: $18,524
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 32,099
- Undergrad Students: 20,761
- Graduate Students: 11,338
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
19
University of Central Florida
Score: 66.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,368
- Out-of-State:$22,467
- Net Price: $13,108
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 68,346
- Undergrad Students: 58,662
- Graduate Students: 9,684
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 29:1
20
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Score: 66.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,570
- Out-of-State:$35,396
- Net Price: $17,240
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 17,153
- Undergrad Students: 12,389
- Graduate Students: 4,764
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
21
Michigan State University
Score: 66.67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,988
- Out-of-State:$43,372
- Net Price: $22,803
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 82%
- Total Enrollment: 50,023
- Undergrad Students: 39,201
- Graduate Students: 10,822
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
22
University of Utah
Score: 66.56
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,315
- Out-of-State:$29,837
- Net Price: $12,399
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 34,734
- Undergrad Students: 26,355
- Graduate Students: 8,379
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
23
George Mason University
Score: 66.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,815
- Out-of-State:$39,397
- Net Price: $18,479
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 39,049
- Undergrad Students: 27,014
- Graduate Students: 12,035
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
24
University of Miami
Score: 65.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,926
- Out-of-State:$59,926
- Net Price: $36,467
- Acceptance Rate: 19%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 19,402
- Undergrad Students: 12,504
- Graduate Students: 6,898
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
25
University of Arizona
Score: 65.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,626
- Out-of-State:$41,095
- Net Price: $17,075
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 49,403
- Undergrad Students: 38,751
- Graduate Students: 10,652
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
26
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Score: 65.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,470
- Out-of-State:$15,420
- Net Price: $5,001
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 13,921
- Undergrad Students: 12,061
- Graduate Students: 1,860
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
27
Goldey-Beacom College
Score: 64.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,440
- Out-of-State:$13,440
- Net Price: $13,454
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 1,012
- Undergrad Students: 620
- Graduate Students: 392
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
28
Webster University
Score: 64.8
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,730
- Out-of-State:$30,730
- Net Price: $23,069
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 6,396
- Undergrad Students: 2,197
- Graduate Students: 4,199
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
29
Arizona State University
Score: 64.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,051
- Out-of-State:$32,193
- Net Price: $14,808
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 80,065
- Undergrad Students: 65,492
- Graduate Students: 14,573
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
30
University of Oklahoma-Norman
Score: 64.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,595
- Out-of-State:$26,665
- Net Price: $22,601
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 28,308
- Undergrad Students: 21,282
- Graduate Students: 7,026
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
31
Temple University
Score: 64.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $22,082
- Out-of-State:$37,462
- Net Price: $23,935
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 33,196
- Undergrad Students: 24,106
- Graduate Students: 9,090
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
32
West Virginia University
Score: 63.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,648
- Out-of-State:$27,360
- Net Price: $12,202
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 24,741
- Undergrad Students: 19,059
- Graduate Students: 5,682
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
33
University of La Verne
Score: 63.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,000
- Out-of-State:$47,000
- Net Price: $25,103
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 5,662
- Undergrad Students: 3,365
- Graduate Students: 2,297
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
34
Gannon University
Score: 63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,951
- Out-of-State:$37,951
- Net Price: $22,200
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 4,665
- Undergrad Students: 3,091
- Graduate Students: 1,574
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
35
St. John's University
Score: 62.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $50,110
- Out-of-State:$50,110
- Net Price: $26,052
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 19,663
- Undergrad Students: 15,652
- Graduate Students: 4,011
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
36
American Public University System
Score: 62.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,400
- Out-of-State:$8,400
- Net Price: $11,172
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 48,668
- Undergrad Students: 39,206
- Graduate Students: 9,462
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
37
University of Illinois Springfield
Score: 62.76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,252
- Out-of-State:$22,017
- Net Price: $11,733
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 4,198
- Undergrad Students: 2,393
- Graduate Students: 1,805
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
38
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Score: 62.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,108
- Out-of-State:$27,748
- Net Price: $16,805
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 23,805
- Undergrad Students: 19,189
- Graduate Students: 4,616
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
39
Ball State University
Score: 62.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,758
- Out-of-State:$28,766
- Net Price: $12,615
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 19,777
- Undergrad Students: 14,416
- Graduate Students: 5,361
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
40
St. John Fisher University
Score: 62.19
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,666
- Out-of-State:$39,666
- Net Price: $28,312
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 3,621
- Undergrad Students: 2,629
- Graduate Students: 992
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
41
The University of West Florida
Score: 61.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,360
- Out-of-State:$19,241
- Net Price: $8,609
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 13,521
- Undergrad Students: 9,291
- Graduate Students: 4,230
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
42
Northern Kentucky University
Score: 61.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,896
- Out-of-State:$21,480
- Net Price: $7,259
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 15,801
- Undergrad Students: 10,776
- Graduate Students: 5,025
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
43
Hamline University
Score: 61.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $48,311
- Out-of-State:$48,311
- Net Price: $23,021
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 2,638
- Undergrad Students: 1,765
- Graduate Students: 873
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
44
Susquehanna University
Score: 61.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $57,400
- Out-of-State:$57,400
- Net Price: $28,605
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 2,231
- Undergrad Students: 2,224
- Graduate Students: 7
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
45
Drake University
Score: 61.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $49,944
- Out-of-State:$49,944
- Net Price: $30,333
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 4,685
- Undergrad Students: 2,835
- Graduate Students: 1,850
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
46
Seattle University
Score: 61.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $54,285
- Out-of-State:$54,285
- Net Price: $35,412
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 7,121
- Undergrad Students: 4,046
- Graduate Students: 3,075
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
47
Central Michigan University
Score: 61.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,190
- Out-of-State:$14,190
- Net Price: $15,605
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 14,557
- Undergrad Students: 10,401
- Graduate Students: 4,156
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
48
Capital University
Score: 60.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,788
- Out-of-State:$41,788
- Net Price: $24,439
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 2,617
- Undergrad Students: 1,938
- Graduate Students: 679
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
49
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Score: 60.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,150
- Out-of-State:$24,464
- Net Price: $12,967
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 9,070
- Undergrad Students: 6,604
- Graduate Students: 2,466
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
50
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Score: 60.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,746
- Out-of-State:$21,330
- Net Price: $17,871
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 8,562
- Undergrad Students: 6,352
- Graduate Students: 2,210
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
