Best colleges for Non-Professional Legal Studies in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Siena University and St. John's University - New York are the top bachelor's Non-Professional Legal Studies programs in New York by graduate earnings. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,649, College Scorecard. St. John's University - New York, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and University at Buffalo award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees in New York: 124, 122 and 95 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 New York colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies and award 483 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 4 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 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,649 | 122 | 56% | — | $9,500 |
| 2 | Siena University Loudonville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,435 | 30 | 75% | $30,138 | $27,000 |
| 3 | St. John's University - New York Queens Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,307 | 124 | 66% | $27,359 | $26,030 |
| 4 | Mercy University Dobbs Ferry Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,579 | 12 | 46% | $17,604 | $29,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees in New York
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 | St. John's University - New York Queens Private not-for-profit | 124 | $29,307 |
| 2 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York Public | 122 | $32,649 |
| 3 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 95 | Not reported |
| 4 | United States Military Academy West Point Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 5 | Siena University Loudonville Private not-for-profit | 30 | $32,435 |
| 6 | St. John Fisher University Rochester Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 7 | Mercy University Dobbs Ferry Private not-for-profit | 12 | $38,579 |
| 8 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Ithaca College Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | Pace University New York Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 New York colleges offering Non-Professional Legal Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh | Public | 5 |
| Manhattanville University | Purchase | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Touro University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011).
Top skills
What Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Non-Professional Legal Studies programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees?+
St. John's University - New York (124 graduates a year), CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (122 graduates a year) and University at Buffalo (95 graduates a year) award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 New York colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies.
What is the best college for Non-Professional Legal Studies in New York?+
By graduate earnings, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice leads among bachelor's Non-Professional Legal Studies programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,649, College Scorecard. Siena University and St. John's University - New York follow. By degrees awarded, St. John's University - New York is the largest, with 124 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Non-Professional Legal Studies program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice tops the list at $32,649. 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 New York?+
The average annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New York is $76,890 (median $68,410), across about 34,220 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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