Best institutions to study Tax Law/Taxation
An advanced, professional study of tax law and taxation procedures in U.S.
24 U.S. institutions graduated 749 Tax Law/Taxation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 22.0211, 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 Tax Law/Taxation programs
An advanced, professional study of tax law and taxation procedures in U.S. or Canadian jurisdictions affecting individuals and corporations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Tax Law/Taxation program, part of the Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies field, offers advanced education in tax law and taxation procedures relevant to U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions. This program is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of tax law, whether for personal advancement or to enhance their legal practice.
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics related to law and government, tax regulations, and legal research methodologies, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary to interpret laws and represent clients effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Tax Law/Taxation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree660 graduates / yr · 21 institutions88%
- Post-master's certificate53 graduates / yr · 3 institutions7.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate36 graduates / yr · 3 institutions4.8%
Graduates over time
Tax Law/Taxation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 804 |
| 2013 | 749 |
| 2014 | 861 |
| 2015 | 893 |
| 2016 | 910 |
| 2017 | 871 |
| 2018 | 869 |
| 2019 | 837 |
| 2020 | 848 |
| 2021 | 774 |
| 2022 | 960 |
| 2023 | 789 |
| 2024 | 760 |
| 2025 | 749 |
Top 24 institutions for Tax Law/Taxation, 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 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 129 | 88% | $29,023 |
| 2 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 120 | 95% | $22,242 |
| 3 | Villanova University Villanova, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 68 | 92% | $33,774 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicMaster's | 67 | 91% | — |
| 5 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 59 | 95% | $14,799 |
| 6 | University of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 54 | 70% | $37,121 |
| 7 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 39 | 89% | $21,956 |
| 8 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicMaster's | 28 | 73% | — |
| 9 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicMaster's | 26 | 69% | — |
| 10 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 21 | 85% | — |
| 11 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 20 | 84% | $26,589 |
| 12 | University of San Diego San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 84% | $26,035 |
| 13 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 79% | $36,488 |
| 14 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | 94% | $14,126 |
| 15 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce Ponce, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | 49% | $13,112 |
| 16 | University of Denver Denver, COPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 76% | $29,726 |
| 17 | University of Baltimore Baltimore, MDPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 12 | 38% | — |
| 18 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 11 | 73% | $33,454 |
| 19 | Golden Gate University San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | — | — |
| 20 | New York Law School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | — | — |
| 21 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 84% | $33,246 |
| 22 | Thomas M Cooley Law School Lansing, MIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | — | — |
| 23 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicMaster's | 1 | 55% | — |
| 24 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster's | 1 | 65% | — |
Offered in 16 states & territories
Where Tax Law/Taxation 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 | 2 | 134 | New York University129 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 120 | Georgetown University120 / yr |
| California | 4 | 95 | University of San Francisco54 / yr |
| Florida | 2 | 87 | University of Florida67 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 70 | Northwestern University59 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 68 | Villanova University68 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 39 | Boston University39 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 28 | The University of Alabama28 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 26 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College26 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 21 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus21 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 14 | Washington University in St Louis13 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 13 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce13 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 12 | University of Denver12 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 12 | University of Baltimore12 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 6 | Southern Methodist University5 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 4 | Thomas M Cooley Law School4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 23-1011, Lawyers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Tax Law/Taxation program often pursue careers as lawyers or law teachers. With a median wage of $151,160 and an expected growth rate of 4.1%, the legal profession offers approximately 31,500 annual openings, making it a promising field for those with a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 22.0211
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 Tax Law/Taxation 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 - 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, a Post-master's certificate, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and legal analysis.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can become a lawyer or a law teacher, among other legal professions.
What is the job outlook for tax law professionals?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 31,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Tax Law/Taxation?+
Tax Law/Taxation is CIP 22.0211 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 tax law and taxation procedures in U.S. or Canadian jurisdictions affecting individuals and corporations.
How many institutions offer Tax Law/Taxation programs?+
24 U.S. institutions reported Tax Law/Taxation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states & territories, awarding 749 credentials in the year. That is 6.2% of all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates.
How much do Tax Law/Taxation graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Lawyers occupation, which Tax Law/Taxation 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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