Skip to main content

Cheapest Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice stands out with a net price of just $3,046 for its Non-Professional General Legal Studies program, making it nearly $7,000 cheaper than the next most affordable option. This dramatic cost advantage reflects the broader New York public university system's commitment to accessible legal education. The twenty most affordable programs span from $3,046 to $13,405 in net costs, showing considerable variation even among budget-friendly options. Graduates from these programs typically earn between $30,409 and $42,123 annually, positioning them well for roles in government agencies, legal aid organizations, and corporate compliance departments. The federal government alone employs over 280,000 legal professionals across various agencies, creating steady demand for graduates with foundational legal knowledge. Public institutions dominate this affordable market, with schools like University of Illinois Springfield offering solid graduation rates of 61.4% while maintaining reasonable costs around $8,916 net price.
50
Programs
$3,046 – $16,874
Net Price Range
$38,055
Avg. Program Earnings
53.4%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $3,046 $7,470 55.5% 50.7%
2 $3,486 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
3 $6,500 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
4 $8,916 $12,252 61.4% 82.0%
5 $9,104 $8,400 53.2%
6 $10,017 $12,817 62.3% 88.4%
7 $10,082 $6,340 47.9% 94.7%
8 $10,089 $9,838 47.7% 84.0%
9 $10,650 $6,368 75.1% 41.0%
10 $11,234 $8,991 51.2% 86.9%
11 $11,800 $7,513 37.2% 99.5%
12 $11,812 $7,912 22.1% 64.8%
13 $11,877 $10,791 52.9% 80.6%
14 $12,267 $10,110 47.6%
15 $12,473 $21,000 23.0%
16 $12,837 $11,988 55.9% 69.5%
17 $12,869 $9,228 57.3% 93.7%
18 $13,164 $9,412 68.5% 97.4%
19 $13,172 $9,315 63.9% 89.1%
20 $13,405 $8,487 44.1% 95.6%
21 $13,485 $12,643 83.7% 47.5%
22 $13,584 $14,694 56.9% 90.1%
23 $13,670 $12,051 67.8% 89.8%
24 $13,780 $7,566 28.9% 65.3%
25 $13,825 $14,965 85.3% 25.9%
26 $14,317 $35,558 55.9% 75.0%
27 $14,501 $11,700 48.8% 67.4%
28 $14,514 $7,992 29.6%
29 $14,582 $12,240 53.8% 76.4%
30 $14,590 $37,227 56.9% 75.6%
31 $14,693 $6,152 26.3%
32 $14,715 $9,192 49.9% 93.5%
33 $14,922 $12,652 56.9% 80.0%
34 $14,979 $14,850 92.9% 11.3%
35 $15,001 $8,689 44.1% 94.9%
36 $15,113 $37,844 62.4% 89.5%
37 $15,355 $12,330 22.6%
38 $15,524 $7,995 31.9%
39 $15,590 $11,505 88.6% 44.6%
40 $15,770 $22,106 48.1% 85.9%
41 $15,898 $10,758 63.3% 69.0%
42 $16,041 $14,190 61.8% 79.0%
43 $16,135 $36,650 54.7% 54.4%
44 $16,136 $8,455 41.4% 61.5%
45 $16,179 $32,300 68.1% 90.5%
46 $16,238 $11,484 50.0%
47 $16,547 $8,881 58.8% 70.2%
48 $16,607 $14,560 74.5% 46.9%
49 $16,780 $16,160 35.8% 87.4%
50 $16,874 $19,740 41.3% 74.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY John Jay College the most affordable option for legal studies?

CUNY John Jay College offers a net price of $3,046 for its Non-Professional General Legal Studies program, significantly lower than other institutions. The school maintains an in-state tuition of $7,470 and graduates earn an average of $32,925 annually. With a 55.5% graduation rate and 50.66% acceptance rate, students receive quality education at an strong value within New York's public university system.

How do graduation rates vary among the most affordable legal studies programs?

Graduation rates range dramatically from 22.1% at Mississippi Valley State University to 75.1% at University of Central Florida. Most schools fall between 47% and 62%, with University of Illinois Springfield achieving 61.4% despite its modest $8,916 net cost. These variations often reflect institutional resources and student support services rather than program quality alone.

Is the earning potential consistent across these budget-friendly programs?

Graduate earnings span from $30,409 to $42,123 among schools reporting salary data. American Public University System leads with $42,123 average earnings despite being a for-profit institution with a $9,104 net cost. University of Washington-Tacoma graduates earn $41,007 annually while paying $10,017 net, showing that affordable programs can still lead to solid career outcomes.

Does student debt burden vary significantly among these affordable options?

Student debt levels range from $7,500 at CUNY John Jay College to $51,706 at Purdue University Global. Most public institutions keep debt below $25,000, with University of Washington-Tacoma maintaining just $14,512 in average debt. The wide variation demonstrates that net price alone doesn't determine final debt burden, making careful financial planning essential.

Where do these affordable programs offer the best acceptance chances?

Northeastern State University accepts 99.46% of applicants with a net cost of $11,800, making it highly accessible. Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce admits 94.74% of students at $10,082 net price. However, more selective options like University of Central Florida accept just 41.04% while maintaining a competitive $10,650 net cost and strong 75.1% graduation rate.

More Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) Rankings

Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) Under $20,000

Related

All Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) Programs All College Rankings Highest-Paying Majors 2026

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.