Best colleges for Legal Professions and Studies
Any program in law, legal services, and legal studies not listed above.
74 U.S. institutions graduated 2,511 Legal Professions and Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 22.9999, a specialization of Legal Professions and Studies (CIP 22.99).
About Legal Professions and Studies programs
Any program in law, legal services, and legal studies not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Legal Professions and Studies program encompasses various educational paths in law, legal services, and legal studies that are not specifically categorized elsewhere. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the legal field, providing a comprehensive understanding of legal principles and practices. It caters to a diverse range of students, from those seeking foundational knowledge to those aiming for advanced degrees in law-related disciplines.
Students in the Legal Professions and Studies program engage with core concepts of law and legal processes. Coursework may cover topics such as legal research, ethics, and various areas of law, equipping students with essential skills for effective legal practice and understanding.
Credentials awarded
What Legal Professions and Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree996 graduates / yr · 35 institutions40%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate495 graduates / yr · 13 institutions20%
- Bachelor's degree480 graduates / yr · 24 institutions19%
- Post-master's certificate277 graduates / yr · 3 institutions11%
- Associate's degree124 graduates / yr · 5 institutions4.9%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year51 graduates / yr · 6 institutions2.0%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice38 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.5%
- Doctor's degree - other29 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship16 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.6%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.2%
Graduates over time
Legal Professions and Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,146 |
| 2013 | 2,137 |
| 2014 | 1,912 |
| 2015 | 1,806 |
| 2016 | 1,843 |
| 2017 | 2,060 |
| 2018 | 2,265 |
| 2019 | 2,536 |
| 2020 | 2,531 |
| 2021 | 1,991 |
| 2022 | 2,326 |
| 2023 | 2,195 |
| 2024 | 2,455 |
| 2025 | 2,511 |
Top 50 institutions for Legal Professions and Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, INPublicPost-degree cert.Doctoral (prof.) | 254 | 50% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 231 | 68% | — | $36,795 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 210 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 4 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 137 | 57% | $18,677 | — |
| 5 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 114 | 82% | $38,931 | — |
| 6 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 113 | 86% | $33,106 | — |
| 7 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RIPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 106 | 69% | $34,648 | $40,424 |
| 8 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 99 | — | — | — |
| 9 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 96 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 10 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicPost-degree cert. | 90 | 69% | — | — |
| 11 | Vermont Law and Graduate School South Royalton, VTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 67 | — | — | — |
| 12 | Yeshiva University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 61 | 83% | $39,696 | — |
| 13 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 52 | 65% | — | $27,613 |
| 14 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicMaster's | 51 | 68% | — | — |
| 15 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster's | 48 | 93% | — | — |
| 16 | St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, FLPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 48 | 48% | $25,464 | $52,601 |
| 17 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 41 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 18 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicMaster's | 41 | 85% | — | — |
| 19 | University of the District of Columbia Washington, DCPublicAssociate's | 34 | 33% | — | — |
| 20 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicBachelor's | 34 | 75% | — | — |
| 21 | Berkeley College - New York New York, NYPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 33 | 44% | $29,326 | $36,131 |
| 22 | Golden Gate University San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 32 | — | — | — |
| 23 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 31 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 24 | Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 30 | 74% | $28,855 | $29,273 |
| 25 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicMaster's | 30 | 65% | — | — |
| 26 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 30 | 52% | — | — |
| 27 | Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 27 | 64% | — | — |
| 28 | Berkeley College - Woodland Park Woodland Park, NJPrivate for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 24 | 44% | $23,170 | $32,325 |
| 29 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicBachelor's | 22 | 62% | — | $39,220 |
| 30 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-School of Law San Juan, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 19 | — | — | — |
| 31 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralMaster's | 18 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 32 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 17 | 66% | $27,359 | — |
| 33 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 15 | 84% | $28,851 | $72,884 |
| 34 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicMaster's | 14 | 81% | — | — |
| 35 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MIPublicBachelor's | 14 | 58% | — | — |
| 36 | Central Penn College Summerdale, PAPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 51% | $19,136 | $40,226 |
| 37 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 14 | 74% | — | — |
| 38 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 91% | $21,126 | — |
| 39 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 12 | 67% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Nevada-Reno Reno, NVPublicMaster's | 12 | 61% | — | — |
| 41 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MIPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 67% | $16,109 | — |
| 42 | University of Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicMaster's | 9 | 38% | — | — |
| 43 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJPublicBachelor's | 9 | 73% | — | — |
| 44 | Seton Hall University South Orange, NJPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 69% | $27,376 | — |
| 45 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 8 | 93% | — | — |
| 46 | Delaware State University Dover, DEPublicBachelor's | 8 | 39% | — | — |
| 47 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 54% | — | — |
| 48 | Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, OKPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 65% | $22,589 | — |
| 49 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 7 | 71% | — | — |
| 50 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 7 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Legal Professions and Studies field (CIP 22.99) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 35 states & territories
Where Legal Professions and Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Legal Professions and Studies programs offered there.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Bachelor's degree, or Post-master's certificate.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 74 colleges offering the Legal Professions and Studies program in the U.S.
What is the average number of graduates per year?+
Approximately 2,511 students graduate from this program each year.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will gain skills in legal research, ethics, and a foundational understanding of various areas of law.
What is the CIP code for Legal Professions and Studies?+
Legal Professions and Studies is CIP 22.9999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Legal Professions and Studies (CIP 22.99). NCES defines it as: Any program in law, legal services, and legal studies not listed above.
How many institutions offer Legal Professions and Studies programs?+
74 U.S. institutions reported Legal Professions and Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 35 states & territories, awarding 2,511 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Legal Professions and Studies graduates.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Legal Professions and Studies graduates, so its figures match the Legal Professions and Studies program page.
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