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BUSINESS
Legal Studies
Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About Legal Studies
Wondering whether Legal Studies is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what a Lawyer earns and how the role is projected to grow.
Pre-law, paralegal studies, and legal foundations. Prepares you for law school or immediate careers in compliance, advocacy, and public policy work. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $61,959, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 980 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 64,269 students complete a degree in this area every year.
- Median Earnings · 1yr
- $38,658
- Median Earnings · 4yr
- $61,959
- Colleges Offering
- 980
- Graduates / Year
- 64,269
- Specializations
- 4
- Avg Net Price / yr
- $28,038
Is a Legal Studies Degree Right for You?
$61,959
Median earnings · 4yr
+4.7%
10yr job growth
4
Specializations
Is the Investment Worth It?
Breaks even in
~3.5
yrs
vs $30K/yr baseline wage
Solid ROI. Median earnings of $61,959 after 4 years. Against an estimated $112,152 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.5 years.
ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.
How Much Do Legal Studies Majors Earn?
Pay for Legal Studies graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $38,658 one year after graduation, rising to $61,959 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 980 US institutions offering programs in this field.
$38,658
1 Year After Graduation
Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.
$61,959
4-Year National Median
Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.
$57,570
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.
Earnings Range Across Specializations
Not all Legal Studies specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $142,745/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $53,266/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.
$53,266
Lowest
$61,959
Median
$142,745
Highest
What Can You Do With a Legal Studies Degree?
Career Paths for Legal Studies Graduates
Studying Legal Studies does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Lawyer pays the most among them at a median $159,670 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.
Another common path leads to what a Judge typically earns and how the field is trending.
Lawyer
Doctoral or professional degree
$159,670
↗ +4.7% growth
Judge
Doctoral or professional degree
$153,990
↗ +2.8% growth
Law Teachers
Doctoral or professional degree
$128,500
↗ +2.6% growth
Administrative Law Judges
Doctoral or professional degree
$117,860
↗ +0.0% growth
Arbitrators & Mediators
Bachelor's degree
$75,530
↗ +4.7% growth
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
Postsecondary nondegree award
$72,420
↘ -0.1% growth
Judicial Law Clerks
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,920
↗ +2.8% growth
Paralegal
Associate's degree
$62,890
↘ -0.3% growth
Legal Studies Specializations
Which specialization you pick inside Legal Studies matters more than usual here. Legal Studies breaks into 5 specializations, and four-year earnings swing from $53,266 to $142,745 depending on which one you choose. Each row below links to a full program profile, sorted highest-paying first. Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for a Law program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.
Specialization
Colleges
Grads/yr
Earnings · 4yr
Best Colleges for Legal Studies
These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Legal Studies, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.
By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Georgetown University.
1
Georgetown University
Washington, DC · Nonprofit
Acceptance
12.9%
Net price/yr
$40,815
Earnings 10yr
$103,494
Grad rate
90%
2
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.8%
Net price/yr
$32,740
Earnings 10yr
$92,498
Grad rate
88%
3
New York University
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.2%
Net price/yr
$37,050
Earnings 10yr
$82,509
Grad rate
76%
4
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
Acceptance
11%
Net price/yr
$13,481
Earnings 10yr
$92,446
Grad rate
74%
5
Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO · Nonprofit
Acceptance
12.1%
Net price/yr
$21,786
Earnings 10yr
$86,182
Grad rate
91%
6
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
4%
Net price/yr
$21,590
Earnings 10yr
$102,491
Grad rate
79%
7
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX · Public
Acceptance
57.4%
Net price/yr
$21,315
Earnings 10yr
$72,097
Grad rate
80%
8
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
3.7%
Net price/yr
$19,066
Earnings 10yr
$101,817
Grad rate
87%
9
George Washington University
Washington, DC · Nonprofit
Acceptance
47.1%
Net price/yr
$36,586
Earnings 10yr
$90,873
Grad rate
78%
10
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
7.7%
Net price/yr
$29,167
Earnings 10yr
$89,363
Grad rate
89%
11
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
59.3%
Net price/yr
$44,338
Earnings 10yr
$85,569
Grad rate
78%
12
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Acceptance
9%
Net price/yr
$12,548
Earnings 10yr
$82,511
Grad rate
82%
13
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
18.9%
Net price/yr
$37,244
Earnings 10yr
$75,328
Grad rate
77%
14
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
99%
Net price/yr
$29,357
Earnings 10yr
$44,813
Grad rate
34%
15
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ · Public
Acceptance
89.9%
Net price/yr
$14,967
Earnings 10yr
$62,668
Grad rate
59%
16
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
81.6%
Net price/yr
$36,079
Earnings 10yr
$71,530
Grad rate
70%
17
American University
Washington, DC · Nonprofit
Acceptance
62%
Net price/yr
$41,943
Earnings 10yr
$77,370
Grad rate
78%
18
Suffolk University
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
82.3%
Net price/yr
$29,618
Earnings 10yr
$67,506
Grad rate
62%
19
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ · Public
Acceptance
86.1%
Net price/yr
$16,674
Earnings 10yr
$59,979
Grad rate
58%
20
Boston University
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
11.1%
Net price/yr
$24,402
Earnings 10yr
$83,238
Grad rate
81%
Ranked by number of Legal Studies graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →
How Legal Studies Compares to Similar Majors
Major
$30k
$40k
$50k
$60k
$70k
$80k
$90k
$100k
Plan Your Path
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Legal Studies degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if a Legal Studies degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Legal Studies Degree: Pros & Cons
Weigh the financial trade-offs in Legal Studies carefully before committing to it. The 4 strengths and 1 concerns below come from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts, so you can see exactly what is driving the caution.
PROS
- Above-average earnings Four-year median of $61,959 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science fields.
- Wide availability Offered at 980 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
- High-earning specializations available Top specializations report median earnings of $142,745, creating strong upside for students who choose a high-demand track.
- Strong salary growth Median salary grows from $38,658 at graduation to $61,959 four years later, indicating solid career momentum.
CONS
- Declining roles in some areas 2 related careers within this field show negative 10-year employment projections per BLS. Research specific roles carefully before committing.
Legal Studies Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Legal Studies graduates earn?
$61,959 a year four years after finishing the degree. That is the national median, so half of graduates earn more and half earn less, and specialization, institution, and region move the number a lot. Use the specializations table on this page to see which tracks pay above and below it. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Legal Studies degree?
About $38,658 in the first year out, at the institutional level. That is an early number, not a ceiling, and it moves with employer, location, and which specialization within Legal Studies you picked. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Legal Studies degree?
More than one path, so the degree does not lock you into a single title. Lawyer pays the most among related roles, at a median $159,670 a year nationally, but it is one option among several. See the Career Paths section on this page for the full list with employment levels and 10-year growth projections. Source: BLS.
How many colleges offer Legal Studies?
980 colleges and universities in the United States, so location is rarely the limiting factor. Options run from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs, so the harder choice is which type of school fits, not whether one is nearby. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Legal Studies degree worth it?
For most students, yes, though the margin depends on which specialization and school you pick. Median 4-year earnings run $61,959 against an average net price of roughly $28,038 a year across institutions that offer this major, and high-earning specializations widen that gap considerably. Compare your specific program before assuming the average applies to you.
How long does it take to earn a Legal Studies degree?
Four years for a bachelor's degree in Legal Studies at the normal full-time pace, or two years for an associate version at a community college. Part-time or online study stretches that timeline out, and transfer credits can shorten it.
What skills do employers look for in Legal Studies graduates?
Employers hiring Legal Studies graduates consistently prioritize financial analysis, communication, project management, and strategic thinking. Employers frequently look for candidates with internship experience and proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, or business software.
Is graduate school worth it for Legal Studies graduates?
An MBA can boost earnings and open paths to management and strategy roles. ROI is strongest at selective programs with strong recruiting pipelines and if you target roles that specifically value the credential. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly requires or rewards an advanced credential.
What is the 10-year job outlook for Legal Studies graduates?
Outlook is steady but slow: related occupations project an average of +2.2% growth over the next decade. Lawyer leads the group at +4.7%. Demand still swings by specialization, employer sector, and region, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Source: BLS.
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