Best colleges for Legal Support Services in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Loyola University Chicago, Lewis and Clark Community College and College of Lake County award the most Legal Support Services degrees and certificates in Illinois: 62, 40 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Illinois colleges offer Legal Support Services and award 410 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 8 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 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $48,819 | 62 | 73% | $33,454 | $35,000 |
| 2 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public · Certificate | $45,094 | 32 | 37% | — | — |
| 3 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public · Certificate Small program | $43,980 | 13 | 48% | — | — |
| 4 | Generations College Chicago Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Online Small program | $43,061 | 12 | 11% | $20,789 | $24,750 |
| 5 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public · Associate degree Small program | $42,994 | 7 | 36% | — | $14,348 |
| 6 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Public · Certificate | $40,429 | 24 | 25% | — | $21,625 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,159 | 14 | 62% | — | $28,000 |
| 8 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College Rockford Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $35,289 | 11 | 66% | $20,078 | $20,834 |
Colleges awarding the most Legal Support Services degrees in Illinois
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 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 62 | $48,819 |
| 2 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public | 40 | Not reported |
| 3 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 32 | $45,094 |
| 4 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 5 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 22 | Not reported |
| 6 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 7 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 8 | Elgin Community College Elgin Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 9 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 14 | $36,159 |
ShowHide the other 16 Illinois colleges offering Legal Support Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 24 |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | 22 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Public | 13 |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Public | 12 |
| Generations College (Online) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines | Public | 11 |
| Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College | Rockford | Private for-profit | 11 |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | Public | 9 |
| South Suburban College | South Holland | Public | 8 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | Public | 7 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Chicago | Public | 5 |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Public | 2 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | 2 |
| Black Hawk College | Moline | Public | 1 |
| Lake Land College | Mattoon | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011).
Top skills
What Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Legal Support Services programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Legal Support Services degrees?+
Loyola University Chicago (62 graduates a year), Lewis and Clark Community College (40 graduates a year) and College of Lake County (32 graduates a year) award the most Legal Support Services degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Illinois colleges offer Legal Support Services.
Which Legal Support Services program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Loyola University Chicago tops the list at $48,819. 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 Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Illinois is $72,310 (median $63,670), across about 14,130 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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