Best colleges for Legal Support Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Legal Support Services by graduate earnings are SUNY College of Technology at Canton ($48,269), University of Cincinnati ($45,549) and St Petersburg College ($43,499), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- SUNY College of Technology at Canton (Canton, NY): $48,269, 29 graduates a year
- University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH): $45,549, 89 graduates a year
- St Petersburg College (St. Petersburg, FL): $43,499, 49 graduates a year
- Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA): $41,973, 221 graduates a year
- Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI): $40,778, 55 graduates a year
Compare 501 U.S. colleges offering Legal Support Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
Legal Support Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,981 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 22.03 and the Paralegals and Legal Assistants occupation (BLS SOC).
About Legal Support Services programs
The Legal Support Services program prepares students for various roles within the legal field, focusing on essential skills and knowledge required to assist legal professionals. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to become integral members of legal teams, providing support in administrative and paralegal functions.
Students in this program will develop skills in writing, active listening, and critical thinking, alongside knowledge of law, government, and administrative practices. Coursework typically includes preparing legal documents, understanding legal terminology, and effective communication.
Top 11 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,269 | 29 | 38% | — | $30,708 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,549 | 89 | 75% | — | $25,258 |
| 3 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,499 | 49 | 38% | — | $35,238 |
| 4 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,973 | 221 | 65% | $28,911 | $37,652 |
| 5 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,778 | 55 | 67% | — | $21,500 |
| 6 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,824 | 72 | 57% | — | $22,777 |
| 7 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,445 | 17 | 69% | $34,648 | $17,363 |
| 8 | Stevenson University Owings Mills, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,661 | 19 | 68% | $26,556 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Peirce College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $46,406 | 20 | 10% | $12,905 | $47,341 |
| 10 | University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,723 | 14 | 52% | — | $20,625 |
| 11 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $41,375 | 331 | 50% | — | $25,974 |
Top 25 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $53,157 | 120 | 84% | $26,035 | $20,437 |
| 2 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA Public · Certificate | $50,681 | 32 | 32% | — | $17,629 |
| 3 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Associate degree | $49,137 | 40 | 39% | — | $12,250 |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $48,819 | 62 | 73% | $33,454 | $35,000 |
| 5 | MTI College Sacramento, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $47,535 | 25 | 77% | $22,079 | $13,758 |
| 6 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Associate degree | $46,622 | 39 | 41% | — | $9,000 |
| 7 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA Public · Associate degree | $45,915 | 23 | 33% | — | $17,427 |
| 8 | College of Lake County Grayslake, IL Public · Certificate | $45,094 | 32 | 37% | — | — |
| 9 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KS Public · Certificate | $44,921 | 43 | 31% | — | $19,367 |
| 10 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Certificate | $44,576 | 42 | 54% | — | $21,963 |
| 11 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC Public · Certificate | $44,012 | 21 | 31% | — | — |
| 12 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $43,918 | 45 | 60% | $20,981 | $24,250 |
| 13 | Marist University Poughkeepsie, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $41,431 | 47 | 80% | $33,867 | $26,000 |
| 14 | Johnston Community College Smithfield, NC Public · Certificate | $41,278 | 30 | 37% | — | — |
| 15 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL Public · Associate degree | $40,782 | 32 | 46% | — | $12,950 |
| 16 | Meredith College Raleigh, NC Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $40,694 | 26 | 70% | $19,552 | $27,176 |
| 17 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Associate degree | $39,517 | 72 | 34% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, MN Public · Associate degree | $49,694 | 24 | 24% | — | $24,521 |
| 19 | North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Associate degree | $48,960 | 39 | 22% | — | $18,625 |
| 20 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Associate degree | $46,216 | 43 | 20% | — | $14,125 |
| 21 | Edmonds College Lynnwood, WA Public · Certificate | $45,880 | 51 | 29% | — | $23,471 |
| 22 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ Public · Associate degree | $45,838 | 65 | 14% | — | $15,000 |
| 23 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL Public · Associate degree Small program | $44,783 | 17 | 41% | — | $25,858 |
| 24 | South Coast College Orange, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $44,536 | 48 | 17% | $22,480 | — |
| 25 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL Public · Certificate Small program | $43,980 | 13 | 48% | — | — |
Specializations within Legal Support Services
4 of the 6 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 22.03 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Legal Assistant/CIP 22.0302
Paralegal 9,640 graduates / yr462 institutions50 states - Court Reporting and Captioning/CIP 22.0303
Court Reporter 431 graduates / yr32 institutions16 states - Legal Administrative Assistant/CIP 22.0301
Secretary 366 graduates / yr45 institutions16 states - Legal Support ServicesCIP 22.0399partial data233 graduates / yr5 institutions5 states
Show all 6 codes (2 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Court Interpreter22.0304
- Scopist22.0305
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 50 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 23-2011, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Legal Support Services program can pursue careers as legal assistants, paralegals, court reporters, and more. The job outlook indicates little or no change in employment opportunities, with approximately 39,300 annual openings and a median wage of $61,010, typically requiring an associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Legal Support Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 22.03.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 22.03 (Legal Support Services) 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 |
|---|---|
| 23-2011 | Paralegals and Legal Assistantsprimary |
| 23-2093 | Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers |
| 23-2099 | Legal Support Workers, All Other |
| 27-3091 | Interpreters and Translators |
| 27-3092 | Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners |
| 43-6012 | Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Legal Support Services 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
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available?+
Specializations include Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary, Legal Assistant/Paralegal, Court Reporting, Court Interpreter, and Scopist.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will gain skills in writing, active listening, critical thinking, and legal document preparation.
What is the typical education required for careers in this field?+
Most positions require an associate's degree.
What is the job outlook for legal support services?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 39,300 annual openings.
How much do Legal Support Services graduates earn?+
Legal Support Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,981, College Scorecard (2019); the Paralegals and Legal Assistants occupation pays about $69,700 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Legal Support Services?+
Legal Support Services maps to CIP 22.03 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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