Best colleges for Non-Professional Legal Studies in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Ramapo College of New Jersey, William Paterson University of New Jersey and Rutgers University - Newark award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees and certificates in New Jersey: 21, 10 and 5 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 3 New Jersey colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies and award 36 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 institution, 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 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,326 | 10 | 44% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees in New Jersey
Top 3 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 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 2 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public | 10 | $30,326 |
| 3 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark Public | 5 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011).
Top skills
What Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Non-Professional Legal Studies programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees?+
Ramapo College of New Jersey (21 graduates a year), William Paterson University of New Jersey (10 graduates a year) and Rutgers University - Newark (5 graduates a year) award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees and certificates in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 3 New Jersey colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies.
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in New Jersey?+
The average annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New Jersey is $72,550 (median $71,500), across about 12,010 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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