Home
Majors
Legal Studies
Non-Professional Legal Studies

BUSINESS Specialization

Non-Professional Legal Studies

Non-Professional Legal Studies graduates earn $61,959 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $42,689 and $82,578. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

Explore Program

About Non-Professional Legal Studies

This page covers Non-Professional Legal Studies as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Legal Studies and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Non-Professional Legal Studies is a focused area of study within Legal Studies. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $61,959 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 282 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 4,745 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The curriculum blends analytical and applied coursework aimed at the workplace.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $39,558
Median Earnings · 4yr: $61,959
Colleges Offering: 282
Graduates / Year: 4,745
Avg Net Price / yr: $19,111

How Much Do Non-Professional Legal Studies Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Non-Professional Legal Studies, a typical graduate earns $61,959, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $42,689 and $82,578, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $39,558 at one year out to $61,959 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$39,558

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$61,959

4-Year National Median

Near the national median for college graduates.

$63,487

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Non-Professional Legal Studies graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. 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.

$42,689 25th pct.

$61,959 Median

$82,578 75th pct.

A Solid Financial Return

Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $61,959 and an estimated $76,444 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.4 years.

Based on outcomes from 191 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 4,745 students who complete Non-Professional Legal Studies programs each year, the majority (76%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

76%

Bachelor's 76%

Master's 11%

Associate's 9%

What Can You Do With a Non-Professional Legal Studies Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Non-Professional Legal Studies graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and Paralegal pays the most at $62,890/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Paralegal earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↘ -0.3% Zone 3: Medium preparation

Paralegal

$62,890

$50K $80K 25th–75th pct.

Associate's degree 40,800 openings/yr 393K employed nationally

Writing Reading Comprehension Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.

Top Colleges for Non-Professional Legal Studies

Not sure where to study Non-Professional Legal Studies? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at University of Central Florida, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	University of Central Florida Orlando, FL · Public	257	40.1%	$10,411	$58,308
2	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public	234	11%	$13,481	$92,446
3	Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit	152	99%	$29,357	$44,813
4	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY · Public	150	57.1%	$3,203	$56,195
5	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ · Public	133	86.1%	$16,674	$59,979
6	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public	126	45.2%	$17,354	$73,792
7	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA · Public	126	65.8%	$17,890	$68,396
8	Michigan State University East Lansing, MI · Public	117	84.8%	$19,680	$67,253
9	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA · Public	112	59.7%	$22,383	$71,631
10	St. John's University-New York Queens, NY · Nonprofit	106	83.4%	$29,999	$69,571
11	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public	105	39.2%	$14,091	$78,466
12	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public	88	89.9%	$14,967	$62,668
13	Suffolk University Boston, MA · Nonprofit	80	82.3%	$29,618	$67,506
14	Texas State University San Marcos, TX · Public	78	89.3%	$16,805	$56,906
15	University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY · Public	74	74.2%	$20,995	$70,814
16	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX · Public	64	86.8%	$10,836	$57,131
17	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH · Public	63	85.3%	$25,648	$54,810
18	Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Public	50	Open	$7,258	$37,186
19	Auburn University Auburn, AL · Public	50	45.9%	$24,323	$65,337
20	University of Miami Coral Gables, FL · Nonprofit	49	18.9%	$37,244	$75,328

View all colleges

Ranked by Non-Professional Legal Studies graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

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 Non-Professional Legal Studies program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Non-Professional 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.

Non-Professional Legal Studies Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Non-Professional Legal Studies shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Above-average earnings Four-year median of $61,959 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $39,558 at graduation to $61,959 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 40,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.

CONS

Declining roles in some areas 1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.

Non-Professional Legal Studies Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Non-Professional Legal Studies graduates earn?

$61,959 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $42,689 and $82,578, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Non-Professional Legal Studies degree?

$39,558 in the first year out. That grows to $61,959 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Non-Professional Legal Studies degree?

Paralegal is one path, and it pays a median of $62,890 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Non-Professional Legal Studies program take?

Four years of full-time study for a Non-Professional Legal Studies bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.

How many colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies?

282 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Non-Professional Legal Studies degree worth it?

$61,959 median earnings four years out against $19,111 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Non-Professional Legal Studies and Legal Studies?

Non-Professional Legal Studies is the narrower of the two: Legal Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Non-Professional Legal Studies-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Non-Professional Legal Studies graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Non-Professional Legal Studies graduates consistently look for financial analysis, communication, project management, and strategic thinking. Internship experience and proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, or business software tend to set candidates apart. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

Is graduate school worth it for Non-Professional Legal Studies graduates?

It depends on the program. An MBA or specialized master's can boost earnings and open paths into management and strategy roles, but the return is strongest at selective schools with strong recruiting pipelines, not everywhere. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.