Legal Professions and Studies graduates earn $57,149 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,638 and $78,857. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
Legal Professions and Studies is a focused area of study within Legal Studies. Graduates typically earn around $57,149 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 92 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 2,229 students complete this program each year, most earning a master's. The curriculum blends analytical and applied coursework aimed at the workplace.
Legal Professions and Studies graduates earn $57,149 four years out, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,638 and $78,857. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $37,766 climbs to $57,149 by year four.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
Near the national median for college graduates.
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
There is a wide earnings spread across Legal Professions and Studies graduates. Industry and seniority explain most of the spread. Finance, consulting, and strategy roles pull the top end up; operations and administrative roles sit at the bottom.
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $57,149 and an estimated $108,104 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 4.0 years.
Based on outcomes from 36 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Of the 2,229 students who complete Legal Professions and Studies programs each year, the majority (49%) earn a master's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
Legal Professions and Studies connects to 8 occupations in the job market. Lawyer leads at $159,670/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Legal Professions and Studies students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
| # | College | Graduates | Acceptance | Net Price/yr | Earnings 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit | 307 | 9.8% | $32,740 | $92,498 |
| 2 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ · Public | 200 | 86.1% | $16,674 | $59,979 |
| 3 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VA · Nonprofit | 172 | 38.1% | $19,923 | $44,498 |
| 4 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL · Nonprofit | 107 | 7.7% | $29,167 | $89,363 |
| 5 | Fordham University Bronx, NY · Nonprofit | 80 | 59.3% | $44,338 | $85,569 |
| 6 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA · Nonprofit | 79 | 14% | $39,949 | $63,268 |
| 7 | St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, FL · Nonprofit | 77 | 97.9% | $26,312 | $54,272 |
| 8 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS · Public | 51 | 93.5% | $18,059 | $61,945 |
| 9 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit | 48 | 5.4% | $28,699 | $111,371 |
| 10 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RI · Nonprofit | 48 | 87.7% | $37,999 | $70,266 |
| 11 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJ · Public | 41 | 87.9% | $15,566 | $61,415 |
| 12 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public | 40 | 89.9% | $14,967 | $62,668 |
| 13 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | 40 | 9% | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 14 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL · Nonprofit | 36 | 81.6% | $36,079 | $71,530 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PA · Public | 33 | 94.3% | $18,256 | $47,295 |
| 16 | Ball State University Muncie, IN · Public | 31 | 85.5% | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| 17 | New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit | 29 | 9.2% | $37,050 | $82,509 |
| 18 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA · Public | 28 | 80.4% | $28,198 | $63,727 |
| 19 | Yeshiva University New York, NY · Nonprofit | 28 | 55.6% | $49,965 | $71,353 |
| 20 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA · Public | 26 | 34.1% | $19,096 | $73,490 |
Ranked by Legal Professions and Studies graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Legal Professions and Studies program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.
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The data on Legal Professions and Studies shows 3 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
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