Legal Studies programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $44,140 to $92,446. Across 36 programs, the variation in program outcomes demonstrates why program selection matters significantly for career trajectories in legal careers and paralegal services.
Leading the list is American University, achieving the highest program earnings at $64,040. University of Miami follows closely with $62,790, while University of Massachusetts-Amherst rounds out the top three at $60,512. These top-performing programs demonstrate strong graduate outcomes with median earnings substantially above the national average for Legal Studies majors.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of New HavenPrivate | West Haven, CT | $77,792 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $28,133 | 80.5% | 59.3% |
| #2 | Mount Pleasant, MI | $69,066 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $12,672 | 91.0% | 61.8% | |
| #3 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | Nashville, TN | $66,804 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $21,886 | 66.6% | 68.7% |
| #4 | American UniversityPrivate | Washington, DC | $64,040 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $21,176 | 47.4% | 78.5% |
| #5 | University Of MiamiPrivate | Coral Gables, FL | $62,790 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $17,790 | 18.5% | 84.2% |
| #6 | Washington, DC | $62,154 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $13,786 | — | 26.3% | |
| #7 | Amherst, MA | $60,512 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $11,103 | 57.8% | 83.2% | |
| #8 | Temple UniversityPublic | Philadelphia, PA | $59,978 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $23,080 | 82.9% | 74.7% |
| #9 | University Of La VernePrivate | La Verne, CA | $59,677 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $26,754 | 48.5% | 65.5% |
| #10 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | Philadelphia, PA | $59,077 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $27,737 | 77.5% | 77.1% |
| #11 | Seattle, WA | $58,906 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $6,398 | 42.5% | 83.7% | |
| #12 | California, PA | $57,055 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $14,651 | 93.7% | 51.0% | |
| #13 | Berkeley, CA | $56,692 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $5,895 | 11.7% | 92.9% | |
| #14 | East Lansing, MI | $56,208 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $8,119 | 83.9% | 82.2% | |
| #15 | Hamline UniversityPrivate | Saint Paul, MN | $54,440 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $18,011 | 89.8% | 57.7% |
| #16 | Cincinnati, OH | $54,323 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $15,108 | 87.7% | 71.5% | |
| #17 | Madison, WI | $54,150 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $4,458 | 43.4% | 89.3% | |
| #18 | Ball State UniversityPublic | Muncie, IN | $53,981 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $7,233 | 71.6% | 63.3% |
| #19 | James Madison UniversityPublic | Harrisonburg, VA | $53,638 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $10,582 | 76.3% | 80.9% |
| #20 | Webster UniversityPrivate | Saint Louis, MO | $52,470 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $21,696 | 58.0% | 61.1% |
