Best institutions to study Comparative Law
An advanced, professional study of legal systems and philosophies in comparative perspective.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 84 Comparative Law students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 22.0206, 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 Comparative Law programs
An advanced, professional study of legal systems and philosophies in comparative perspective.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Comparative Law program, part of the Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, offers an advanced, professional study of legal systems and philosophies from a comparative perspective. This program is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of various legal frameworks and enhance their expertise in the legal field.
Students in the Comparative Law program develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics related to law and government, legal interpretation, and the analysis of legal precedents, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary for various legal professions.
Credentials awarded
What Comparative Law graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree60 graduates / yr · 3 institutions71%
- Post-master's certificate16 graduates / yr · 1 institution19%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate8 graduates / yr · 2 institutions9.5%
Graduates over time
Comparative Law completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 62 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 53 |
| 2015 | 52 |
| 2016 | 64 |
| 2017 | 67 |
| 2018 | 51 |
| 2019 | 48 |
| 2020 | 39 |
| 2021 | 37 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 31 |
| 2025 | 84 |
Top 6 institutions for Comparative Law, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of San Diego San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 54 | 84% | $26,035 |
| 2 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 16 | 86% | $33,106 |
| 3 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 7 | 94% | $14,126 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicMaster's | 4 | 91% | — |
| 5 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicMaster's | 2 | 80% | — |
| 6 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 54% | — |
Offered in 5 states
Where Comparative Law 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 54 | University of San Diego54 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 16 | Tulane University of Louisiana16 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 7 | Washington University in St Louis7 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 4 | University of Florida4 / yr |
| Indiana | 2 | 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 23-1011, Lawyers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Comparative Law program often pursue careers as lawyers or law teachers in postsecondary education. The job outlook for legal professionals is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 4.1% and approximately 31,500 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $151,160, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 22.0206
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 Comparative Law 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
- American/CIP 22.0203
U.S. Law/ Legal Studies/ Jurisprudence 949 graduates / yr40 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
- 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 are offered in this program?+
The program offers a Master's degree, post-master's certificate, and postbaccalaureate certificate.
How many colleges in the U.S. offer this program?+
There are 6 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Comparative Law program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective writing, among others.
What types of careers can I pursue after graduation?+
Graduates can become lawyers or law teachers, with a strong job outlook in the legal profession.
What is the CIP code for Comparative Law?+
Comparative Law is CIP 22.0206 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 study of legal systems and philosophies in comparative perspective.
How many institutions offer Comparative Law programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Comparative Law graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 84 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates.
How much do Comparative Law graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Lawyers occupation, which Comparative Law most directly leads to, pays a median of $159,670 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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