Best colleges for Legal Support Services in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of San Diego, MTI College and Mt San Antonio College are the top Legal Support Services programs in California by graduate earnings. University of San Diego leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,157, College Scorecard. Santa Ana College, University of San Diego and East Los Angeles College award the most Legal Support Services degrees and certificates in California: 131, 120 and 104 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 54 California colleges offer Legal Support Services and award 2,050 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Legal Support Services program prepares students for various roles within the legal field, focusing on essential skills and knowledge required to assist legal professionals. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to become…
Top 5 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $53,157 | 120 | 84% | $26,035 | $20,437 |
| 2 | MTI College Sacramento Private for-profit · Associate degree | $47,535 | 25 | 77% | $22,079 | $13,758 |
| 3 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public · Associate degree | $29,569 | 53 | 45% | — | $14,353 |
| 4 | South Coast College Orange Private for-profit · Associate degree | $44,536 | 48 | 17% | $22,480 | — |
| 5 | Fremont University Cerritos Private for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $38,854 | 9 | 39% | $32,428 | $21,312 |
Colleges awarding the most Legal Support Services degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana Public | 131 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit | 120 | $53,157 |
| 3 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | 104 | Not reported |
| 4 | Downey Adult School Downey Public | 94 | Not reported |
| 5 | American River College Sacramento Public | 87 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego Public | 85 | Not reported |
| 7 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 74 | Not reported |
| 8 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 72 | Not reported |
| 9 | Oxnard College Oxnard Public | 71 | Not reported |
| 10 | De Anza College Cupertino Public | 61 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 44 California colleges offering Legal Support Services
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011).
Top skills
What Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Legal Support Services programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Legal Support Services degrees?+
Santa Ana College (131 graduates a year), University of San Diego (120 graduates a year) and East Los Angeles College (104 graduates a year) award the most Legal Support Services degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 54 California colleges offer Legal Support Services.
What is the best college for Legal Support Services in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of San Diego leads among Legal Support Services programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,157, College Scorecard. MTI College and Mt San Antonio College follow. By degrees awarded, Santa Ana College is the largest, with 131 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Legal Support Services program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of San Diego tops the list at $53,157. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California is $81,320 (median $77,390), across about 47,130 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Legal Support Services program?+
The Legal Support Services program prepares students for various roles within the legal field, focusing on essential skills and knowledge required to assist legal professionals. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to become…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop writing, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +0.2% growth with around 39,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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