Best colleges for Non-Professional Legal Studies in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Santa Cruz and East Los Angeles College award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees in California: 201, 114 and 70 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 60 California colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies and award 1,056 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, 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 California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,886 | 201 | 93% | — | $13,723 |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,941 | 114 | 75% | — | $18,416 |
| 3 | University of La Verne La Verne Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $49,004 | 10 | 63% | $45,461 | $30,370 |
Colleges awarding the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 201 | $43,886 |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 114 | $36,941 |
| 3 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | 70 | Not reported |
| 4 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita Public | 50 | Not reported |
| 5 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton Public | 50 | Not reported |
| 6 | Sacramento City College Sacramento Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 7 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana Public | 45 | Not reported |
| 8 | Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 9 | Hartnell College Salinas Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 10 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 50 California colleges offering Non-Professional Legal Studies
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 Non-Professional Legal Studies programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees?+
University of California-Berkeley (201 graduates a year), University of California-Santa Cruz (114 graduates a year) and East Los Angeles College (70 graduates a year) award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 60 California colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies.
Which Non-Professional Legal Studies program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $43,886. 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 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).
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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