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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #21 | Quinnipiac UniversityPrivate | Hamden, CT | $52,302 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $31,257 | 77.0% | 77.3% |
| #22 | Queens, NY | $52,299 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $23,468 | 79.7% | 68.5% | |
| #23 | Tempe, AZ | $51,748 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $8,909 | 90.2% | 67.8% | |
| #24 | New York, NY | $51,332 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $1,290 | 57.2% | 55.5% | |
| #25 | University Park, PA | $50,556 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $18,032 | 80.3% | 85.7% | |
| #26 | Brooklyn, NY | $50,044 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $3,681 | 80.7% | 19.4% | |
| #27 | Santa Cruz, CA | $49,862 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $9,472 | 62.5% | 74.5% | |
| #28 | Roosevelt UniversityPrivate | Chicago, IL | $49,796 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $15,863 | 94.3% | 41.0% |
| #29 | University Of DenverPrivate | Denver, CO | $48,703 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $20,820 | 71.2% | 78.0% |
| #30 | Houston, TX | $48,678 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $7,818 | 75.3% | 50.8% | |
| #31 | Allendale, MI | $47,792 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $11,395 | 94.7% | 68.7% | |
| #32 | Nova Southeastern UniversityPrivate | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $47,470 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $28,140 | 72.7% | 64.3% |
| #33 | Statesboro, GA | $47,192 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $13,139 | 89.6% | 52.0% | |
| #34 | Stevenson UniversityPrivate | Owings Mills, MD | $47,122 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $18,681 | 83.2% | 66.4% |
| #35 | Mercy UniversityPrivate | Dobbs Ferry, NY | $46,803 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $13,092 | 85.5% | 48.1% |
| #36 | Roger Williams UniversityPrivate | Bristol, RI | $45,557 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $29,475 | 87.8% | 66.6% |
| #37 | Ithaca CollegePrivate | Ithaca, NY | $45,407 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $22,208 | 69.9% | 74.1% |
| #38 | Clayton State UniversityPublic | Morrow, GA | $45,339 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $8,685 | 70.6% | 35.4% |
| #39 | Bay Path UniversityPrivate | Longmeadow, MA | $45,013 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $10,194 | 73.5% | 56.9% |
| #40 | Wayne, NJ | $44,812 Median Legal Studies Earnings | $15,420 | 92.5% | 47.7% |
