Best institutions to study Law
Compare 210 U.S. colleges offering Law by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
About Law programs
The Law program focuses on legal professions and studies, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of legal principles and practices. It is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-law field and are interested in pursuing a career in law without qualifying for bar admission. This program offers a pathway to deepen legal knowledge and skills applicable in various professional contexts.
Students in the Law program will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework covers topics related to law and government, legal interpretations, and the analysis of legal precedents, equipping students with the knowledge necessary to navigate the legal landscape.
Top 210 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
Offered across 50 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3 | — | — |
| Arizonalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Arkansaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| California | 29 | — | — |
| Colorado | 3 | — | — |
| Connecticut | 3 | — | — |
| District of Columbia | 6 | — | — |
| Florida | 11 | — | — |
| Georgia | 5 | — | — |
| Hawaiilimited | 1 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
| Illinois | 9 | — | — |
| Indiana | 4 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kansaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kentucky | 3 | — | — |
| Louisiana | 4 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Marylandlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Massachusetts | 8 | — | — |
| Michigan | 6 | — | — |
| Minnesota | 3 | — | — |
| Mississippilimited | 2 | — | — |
| Missouri | 4 | — | — |
| Montanalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Hampshirelimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jersey | 3 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 1 | — | — |
| New York | 15 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 6 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohio | 9 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | 3 | — | — |
| Oregon | 3 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Tennessee | 5 | — | — |
| Texas | 10 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Vermontlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginia | 8 | — | — |
| Washington | 3 | — | — |
| West Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Wyominglimited | 1 | — | — |
| Puerto Rico | 3 | — | — |
| Rhode Islandlimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 23-1011, Lawyers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Law program can expect a favorable job outlook, with an annual growth rate of 4.1% and approximately 31,500 annual openings in the field. The median wage for legal professionals is $151,160, and most positions require a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Law
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 22.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 22.01 (Law) maps to 6 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 23-1011 | Lawyersprimary |
| 23-1012 | Judicial Law Clerks |
| 23-1021 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers |
| 23-1022 | Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators |
| 23-1023 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates |
| 25-1112 | Law Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Law programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
- Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
Concentrations within Law
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- LawCIP 22.0101
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of law, for taking state and national bar examinations, and for advanced research in jurisprudence
Common questions
What is a Master of Jurisprudence?+
A Master of Jurisprudence is a graduate-level professional degree in law designed for those with a non-law bachelor's degree.
Does this program qualify me for bar admission?+
No, the degree does not qualify an individual for bar admission.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, writing, and active listening.
What kind of careers can I pursue with this degree?+
Careers may include legal research, compliance, and various roles in legal settings, with a strong job outlook.
What is the CIP code for Law?+
Law maps to CIP 22.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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