Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
Offered at 243 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 6 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 2 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 10 | — | — | $26,000 |
| Post-bacc certificate | 2 | — | — | — |
| Master's | 141 | $85,798 | $104,666 | — |
| Doctoral | 33 | — | — | — |
| Professional | 10 | $96,659 | $152,532 | — |
| Graduate certificate | 39 | $84,915 | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison University | VA | $47,879 | $70,180 | $19,500 |
| 2 | Drexel University | PA | $63,974 | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania Western University | PA | — | $62,924 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning post-bacc certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | PA | $78,463 | $88,828 | — |
| 2 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center | NY | — | $75,641 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University | NY | $204,875 | — | — |
| 2 | Duke University | NC | $196,585 | — | — |
| 3 | Georgetown University | DC | — | $171,203 | — |
| 4 | University of Florida | FL | $123,671 | $157,488 | — |
| 5 | Boston University | MA | $107,660 | $146,195 | — |
| 6 | University of Houston | TX | — | $143,986 | — |
| 7 | Villanova University | PA | $142,363 | — | — |
| 8 | Golden Gate University | CA | — | $141,625 | — |
| 9 | Loyola Marymount University | CA | $116,838 | $140,141 | — |
| 10 | University of San Diego | CA | $104,638 | $140,101 | — |
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $82,512 | $139,985 | — |
| 12 | Seton Hall University | NJ | $126,937 | $134,739 | — |
| 13 | University of Miami | FL | $88,927 | $132,634 | — |
| 14 | University of Illinois Chicago | IL | $89,077 | $131,223 | — |
| 15 | University of San Francisco | CA | $160,316 | $130,528 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suffolk University | MA | $102,785 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning professional programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University | IL | $143,011 | $195,218 | — |
| 2 | Georgetown University | DC | — | $152,532 | — |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $98,688 | — | — |
| 4 | University of Connecticut | CT | $94,630 | — | — |
| 5 | Thomas M Cooley Law School | MI | $65,608 | $90,168 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University | IL | $139,000 | — | — |
| 2 | University of Southern California | CA | $100,754 | $105,974 | — |
| 3 | Temple University | PA | $88,379 | — | — |
| 4 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | IN | $81,452 | — | — |
| 5 | St. Thomas University | FL | $71,023 | — | — |
| 6 | Champlain College | VT | $63,278 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
