Legal Studies

CIP Code: 22.0000

A legal studies degree prepares graduates for careers in Legal support workers, all other, Paralegals and legal assistants. 175 colleges and universities offer this program.

Annual Degrees Awarded
4,068
Colleges Offering 175
Avg. Career Salary $64,885
Top Career Salary $68,760

Legal Studies Salary by College

Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $61,959 four years after graduating (middle half: $42,689–$82,578). Where you study it matters: across 39 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $40,990 to $148,087.

Sort by:

#College4 yrs afterWage-adjusted1 yr afterMedian debtOutcome Rating
1Bentley University Waltham, MA$148,087$130,406$72,883$27,000A+
2University of Miami Coral Gables, FL$99,836$106,263$49,624$15,565A+
3Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT$74,835$67,375$39,162$27,000A
4University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC$74,158$64,982$43,778$37,650C
5American University Washington, DC$72,792$63,785$45,790$24,375A
6Michigan State University East Lansing, MI$72,414$76,352$33,752$24,753A
8University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA$71,042$65,343$39,558$14,512B+
7University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA$71,042$65,343$39,558$14,512A
9University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD$70,845$62,175$54,304$26,701C+
10University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA$70,636$64,274$43,886$13,000A+
11Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH$70,429$75,158$51,231$19,342A
12Suffolk University Boston, MA$70,274$61,884$44,354$27,000B
13University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI$70,123$72,966$41,144$20,000A+
14University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA$69,269$60,999$36,181$21,500B+
15University of La Verne La Verne, CA$66,373$60,395$49,004$27,870B
16University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA$66,244$60,278$36,941$17,883B+
17Hamline University Saint Paul, MN$65,460$62,528$40,059$22,000C+
18St. John's University-New York Queens, NY$65,316$62,167$29,307$25,520B+
19University of Denver Denver, CO$63,727$59,597$38,432$20,063B+
20Siena College Loudonville, NY$63,487$60,426$32,435$27,000A
21American Public University System Charles Town, WV$61,532$72,796$46,109$30,518C+
23Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ$61,356$63,044$42,228$22,523B+
22Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ$61,356$63,044$42,228$22,523B+
25Pennsylvania State University-World Campus University Park, PA$60,745$61,778$53,237$31,750C+
24Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA$60,745$61,778$53,237$31,750A
26University of New Haven West Haven, CT$60,438$54,414——C
27University of Central Florida Orlando, FL$59,715$63,559$34,408$17,956B+
28Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI$57,108$60,214——C+
29CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY$57,073$54,322$32,649$7,500C
30St. John Fisher University Rochester, NY$54,899$52,252——B+
31Bellevue University Bellevue, NE$54,320$56,142$44,839$25,000B
32Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL$53,101$56,519$30,149$48,000C+
33Post University Waterbury, CT$51,731$46,574$39,838$35,456F
34Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, NY$51,161$48,695$38,579$25,000D
35Bay Path University Longmeadow, MA$48,575$42,775$34,717$27,047C+
36Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI$48,323$50,951——B
37National Paralegal College Phoenix, AZ$46,114$47,383$35,764$36,879F
38Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN$43,441$46,604—$51,706C+
39Morehead State University Morehead, KY$40,990$46,413$28,504$24,383D

Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.

What Can You Do With a Legal Studies Degree?

Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:

Legal support workers, all other

$68,760 -1.2% growth

Paralegals and legal assistants

$61,010 +0.2% growth
$64,885
Average Salary Across Careers
$68,760
Highest Paying Career
2
Career Paths Available

Best Colleges for Legal Studies

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in legal studies.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 205 A
2 University of Georgia Athens, GA 194 A
3 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 57 A
4 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 41 A
5 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 190 B+
6 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 137 B+
7 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 123 B+
8 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA 111 B+
9 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL 66 B+
10 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ 143 B
11 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 141 B
12 University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 114 B
13 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY 104 B
14 University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY 85 B
15 Auburn University Auburn, AL 66 B
16 University of Mississippi University, MS 40 B
17 American University Washington, DC 40 B
18 University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA 27 B
19 American Public University System Charles Town, WV 114 C+
20 St. John's University-New York Queens, NY 89 C+
21 The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX 71 C+
22 Suffolk University Boston, MA 65 C+
23 Texas State University San Marcos, TX 63 C+
24 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH 37 C+
25 Drake University Des Moines, IA 36 C+
26 Bellevue University Bellevue, NE 32 C+
27 Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CA 32 C+
28 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS 31 C+
29 College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA 29 C+
30 Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY 27 C+

Largest Legal Studies Programs

Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most legal studies graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 205 A
2 University of Georgia Athens, GA 194 A
3 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 190 B+
4 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ 143 B
5 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 141 B
6 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 137 B+
7 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 123 B+
8 University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 114 B
9 American Public University System Charles Town, WV 114 C+
10 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA 111 B+
11 University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD 106 C
12 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY 104 B
13 St. John's University-New York Queens, NY 89 C+
14 University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY 85 B
15 Post University Waterbury, CT 75 C
16 The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX 71 C+
17 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL 66 B+
18 Auburn University Auburn, AL 66 B
19 Suffolk University Boston, MA 65 C+
20 Texas State University San Marcos, TX 63 C+
21 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 57 A
22 National Paralegal College Phoenix, AZ 45 F
23 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 41 A
24 American University Washington, DC 40 B
25 University of Mississippi University, MS 40 B
26 San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA 40 C
27 Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN 39 C
28 East Los Angeles College Monterey Park, CA 39 C
29 Sacramento City College Sacramento, CA 38 C
30 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH 37 C+
4,068
Degrees Awarded Annually
175
Colleges Offering Program
2
Related Careers

About Legal Studies

Legal Studies is a degree program offered at 175 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 4,068 students graduate with this degree.

Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as legal support workers, all other, paralegals and legal assistants.

Program Classification

CIP Code 22.0000
Field (2-digit CIP) 22
Category (4-digit CIP) 22.00

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a Legal Studies degree?
A Legal Studies degree can lead to careers as a legal support workers, all other, paralegals and legal assistants, and more. Top earners in related careers can make up to $68,760 annually.
How many colleges offer Legal Studies?
175 colleges and universities in the United States offer Legal Studies as a degree program. Each year, approximately 4,068 students graduate with this degree.
What are the best colleges for Legal Studies?
The best colleges for Legal Studies based on Repit's ratings include University of California-Berkeley, University of Georgia, United States Military Academy, Vanderbilt University, University of Central Florida. Rankings are based on the college's overall Repit grade and the number of degrees awarded in this program.
What is the salary potential with a Legal Studies degree?
Graduates with a Legal Studies degree can expect average salaries around $64,885 in related careers, with top earners making up to $68,760. Actual salaries depend on the specific career path, experience level, and location.