Best institutions to study American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence
An advanced, professional program of the U.S.
40 U.S. institutions graduated 949 American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 22.0203, a specialization of Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02), and leads most directly to the Lawyers occupation (BLS SOC 23-1011).
About American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence programs
An advanced, professional program of the U.S. legal system, Constitution law, and jurisprudence. Includes instruction in legal history, legal sociology, philosophy of law, Constitutional law, legal procedure, and related topics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence program, part of Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, offers an advanced understanding of the U.S. legal system, including Constitutional law and jurisprudence. This program is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge of legal principles and practices, preparing them for various roles in the legal field.
Students will gain essential skills in speaking, critical thinking, and writing, alongside knowledge in law and government, legal history, and legal procedure. Coursework typically includes topics such as legal sociology, philosophy of law, and related areas.
Credentials awarded
What American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree807 graduates / yr · 32 institutions85%
- Post-master's certificate62 graduates / yr · 2 institutions6.5%
- Bachelor's degree33 graduates / yr · 4 institutions3.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate27 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship16 graduates / yr · 4 institutions1.7%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 302 |
| 2013 | 323 |
| 2014 | 392 |
| 2015 | 472 |
| 2016 | 459 |
| 2017 | 597 |
| 2018 | 645 |
| 2019 | 721 |
| 2020 | 863 |
| 2021 | 743 |
| 2022 | 1,105 |
| 2023 | 926 |
| 2024 | 889 |
| 2025 | 949 |
Top 40 institutions for American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence, 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 earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 201 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 2 | University of Dayton Dayton, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 102 | 80% | $28,560 | — |
| 3 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 53 | 65% | $28,911 | — |
| 4 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 52 | 85% | — | — |
| 5 | St. Mary's University San Antonio, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 51 | 59% | $21,285 | — |
| 6 | Vermont Law and Graduate School South Royalton, VTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 49 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 46 | 79% | $36,488 | — |
| 8 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 43 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 9 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicMaster's | 38 | 87% | — | — |
| 10 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 37 | 78% | $36,004 | $59,077 |
| 11 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 24 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 12 | University of California College of the Law - San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicMaster's | 23 | — | — | — |
| 13 | Amherst College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 94% | $16,081 | — |
| 14 | Widener University Chester, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 18 | 68% | $29,049 | — |
| 15 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 63% | $31,672 | — |
| 16 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 17 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 16 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 18 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicMaster's | 16 | 83% | — | — |
| 19 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 69% | $34,539 | — |
| 20 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | 80% | $35,682 | — |
| 21 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 22 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VAPublicMaster's | 11 | 89% | — | — |
| 23 | University of the Pacific Stockton, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 69% | $23,964 | — |
| 24 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 75% | $30,225 | — |
| 25 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicPost-degree cert.Master'sDoctoral | 8 | 80% | — | — |
| 26 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 7 | 87% | $27,976 | — |
| 27 | Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 59% | $22,906 | — |
| 28 | Winona State University Winona, MNPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 57% | — | — |
| 29 | Albany Law School Albany, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | — | — | — |
| 30 | Walsh University North Canton, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 58% | $18,964 | — |
| 31 | University of Denver Denver, COPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 76% | $29,726 | — |
| 32 | Florida Memorial University Miami Gardens, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 31% | $21,059 | — |
| 33 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 84% | $33,246 | — |
| 34 | Northcentral University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | — | — | — |
| 35 | Golden Gate University San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | — | — | — |
| 36 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 83% | $41,986 | — |
| 37 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicMaster's | 1 | 69% | — | — |
| 38 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 86% | $33,106 | — |
| 39 | Owens Community College Perrysburg, OHPublicAssociate's | 1 | 35% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicMaster's | 1 | 72% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies field (CIP 22.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 20 states
Where American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence graduates come from. Each state links to all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 3 | 222 | Cornell University201 / yr |
| California | 8 | 137 | Loyola Marymount University46 / yr |
| Ohio | 4 | 116 | University of Dayton102 / yr |
| Illinois | 3 | 79 | DePaul University43 / yr |
| Texas | 3 | 67 | St. Mary's University51 / yr |
| Virginia | 2 | 64 | Liberty University53 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 55 | Drexel University37 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 52 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus52 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 49 | Vermont Law and Graduate School49 / yr |
| Florida | 2 | 20 | Nova Southeastern University17 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 19 | Amherst College19 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 17 | Washington University in St Louis17 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 16 | University of Connecticut16 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 9 | American University9 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 8 | Indiana University - Bloomington8 / yr |
| Louisiana | 2 | 7 | Loyola University New Orleans6 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 6 | Winona State University6 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 4 | University of Denver4 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 1 | University of Kansas1 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | University of Oregon1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 23-1011, Lawyers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program often pursue careers as lawyers or law teachers, with a median wage of $151,160. The job outlook for legal professions is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.1% and approximately 31,500 annual openings.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 22.0203
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lawyersprimary SOC 23-1011 | $159,670 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~31,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Law Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1112 | $128,500 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~2,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies specializations
The 24 other 6-digit CIP codes under Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02).
- Advanced Legal Research/CIP 22.0201
Studies 5,052 graduates / yr77 institutions - Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesCIP 22.02991,551 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Programs for Foreign LawyersCIP 22.02021,380 graduates / yr34 institutions
- Tax Law/CIP 22.0211
Taxation 749 graduates / yr24 institutions - Health LawCIP 22.0208448 graduates / yr21 institutions
- International Law and Legal StudiesCIP 22.0209388 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities LawCIP 22.0205353 graduates / yr25 institutions
- International Business, Trade, and Tax LawCIP 22.0210316 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources LawCIP 22.0207255 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Human Resources LawCIP 22.0220partial data235 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Intellectual Property LawCIP 22.0212110 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Arts and Entertainment LawCIP 22.0215limited data98 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Comparative LawCIP 22.0206partial data84 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Real Estate and Land Development LawCIP 22.0222limited data56 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Tribal/CIP 22.0224
Indigenous Law partial data56 graduates / yr7 institutions - Compliance LawCIP 22.0216partial data38 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Criminal Law and ProcedureCIP 22.0217partial data30 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Entrepreneurship LawCIP 22.0218limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Patent LawCIP 22.0213limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 5 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Canadian Law/
Legal Studies/ Jurisprudence22.0204 - Agriculture Law22.0214
- Family/
Child/ Elder Law22.0219 - Insurance Law22.0221
- Transportation Law22.0223
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Post-master's certificate, Bachelor's degree, or Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and writing.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a lawyer or a law teacher, among other legal professions.
What is the job outlook for legal professions?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.1%.
What is the CIP code for American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence?+
American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence is CIP 22.0203 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02). NCES defines it as: An advanced, professional program of the U.S. legal system, Constitution law, and jurisprudence. Includes instruction in legal history, legal sociology, philosophy of law, Constitutional law, legal procedure, and related topics.
How many institutions offer American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence programs?+
40 U.S. institutions reported American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 20 states, awarding 949 credentials in the year. That is 7.8% of all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates.
How much do American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Lawyers occupation, which American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence most directly leads to, pays a median of $159,670 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies field report median earnings of $59,077 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
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