California · Non-Professional Legal Studies

Best Non-Professional Legal Studies institutions in California, ranked by earnings

The Non-Professional Legal Studies program offers students an opportunity to explore legal principles and practices without qualifying for bar admission. This program is ideal for individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-law field who…

Institutions
56
offering CIP 22.00
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
801
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$43,886
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,171
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
44%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Paralegals and Legal Assistants
$76,920
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of La Verne
La Verne Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$49,0041263%$45,461$30,370
2University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,88616393%$13,723
3University of California - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,94110475%$18,416

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+0.2%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~39,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$61,010
typically Associate's degree

Top skills

WritingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoring

What Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in California

Jobs in California
45,740
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$76,920
median $72,960
Best-paying metro
$101,760
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Related careers

Paralegals and Legal Assistants
$76,920 avg · 45,740 jobs
Legal Support Workers, All Other
$89,380

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Non-Professional Legal Studies programs in California.

Which Non-Professional Legal Studies program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of La Verne tops the list at $49,004. Compare it against completions, 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 $76,920 (median $72,960), across about 45,740 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Non-Professional Legal Studies program?+

The Non-Professional Legal Studies program offers students an opportunity to explore legal principles and practices without qualifying for bar admission. This program is ideal for individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-law field who…

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).

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card