Non-Professional Legal Studies
Offered at 265 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 | 34 | — | — | $17,812 |
| Associate | 59 | $31,131 | — | $10,750 |
| Bachelor's | 141 | $44,185 | $65,626 | $23,000 |
| Master's | 24 | $69,478 | — | — |
| Doctoral | 1 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 6 | — | — | — |
"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.
One year after finishing, a typical associate program in this field reports median earnings of $31,131, versus $44,185 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Georgia | GA | $72,516 | $116,000 | $19,125 |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $45,262 | — | $13,985 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Post University | CT | $29,632 | $48,825 | $35,230 |
| 2 | Carl Albert State College | OK | — | $46,036 | — |
| 3 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | $39,534 | — | $10,750 |
| 4 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | MS | $31,131 | — | $5,500 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Miami | FL | — | $120,108 | $18,750 |
| 2 | Central Michigan University | MI | — | $87,263 | — |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | MA | $32,323 | $86,357 | $23,250 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $51,139 | $81,284 | $13,250 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $53,147 | $79,482 | $28,885 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | PA | $53,147 | $79,482 | $28,885 |
| 7 | Siena University | NY | $44,335 | $78,611 | $21,500 |
| 8 | Bentley University | MA | $78,138 | — | — |
| 9 | Michigan State University | MI | $40,123 | $75,642 | $20,500 |
| 10 | University of Denver | CO | — | $74,345 | $20,000 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $42,529 | $73,888 | $18,025 |
| 12 | Suffolk University | MA | $51,539 | $71,260 | $27,000 |
| 13 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $48,780 | $70,004 | $16,584 |
| 14 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | WA | $48,780 | $70,004 | $16,584 |
| 15 | University of California-Santa Cruz | CA | $41,760 | $69,838 | $14,349 |
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 | American Public University System | WV | $71,165 | $76,562 | — |
| 2 | Trinity Law School | CA | $72,229 | — | — |
| 3 | Trinity International University-Illinois | IL | $72,229 | — | — |
| 4 | University of Arizona | AZ | $70,238 | — | — |
| 5 | University of Illinois Springfield | IL | $69,898 | — | — |
| 6 | The Colleges of Law at Ventura | CA | $69,058 | — | — |
| 7 | West Virginia University | WV | $62,332 | — | — |
| 8 | Ohio University-Main Campus | OH | $56,973 | — | — |
| 9 | Webster University | MO | $56,317 | — | — |
| 10 | Texas State University | TX | $48,936 | — | — |
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 | Texas State University | TX | $46,354 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do non-professional legal studies graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in non-professional legal studies reports median earnings of $44,185. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
