Best institutions to study Legal Support Services
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 a median of $38,981 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), 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 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | 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 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,445 | 17 | 69% | $34,648 | $17,363 |
| 3 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA Public · Certificate degree | $50,681 | 32 | 32% | — | $17,629 |
| 4 | Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, MN Public · Associate degree | $49,694 | 24 | 24% | — | $24,521 |
| 5 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Associate degree | $49,137 | 40 | 39% | — | $12,250 |
| 6 | North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Associate degree | $48,960 | 39 | 22% | — | $18,625 |
| 7 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $48,819 | 62 | 73% | $33,454 | $35,000 |
| 8 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,269 | 29 | 38% | — | $30,708 |
| 9 | MTI College Sacramento, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $47,535 | 25 | 77% | $22,079 | $13,758 |
| 10 | Stevenson University Owings Mills, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,661 | 19 | 68% | $26,556 | $27,000 |
| 11 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL Public · Associate degree | $46,622 | 39 | 41% | — | $9,000 |
| 12 | Peirce College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,406 | 20 | 10% | $12,905 | $47,341 |
| 13 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Associate degree | $46,216 | 43 | 20% | — | $14,125 |
| 14 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA Public · Associate degree | $45,915 | 23 | 33% | — | $17,427 |
| 15 | Edmonds College Lynnwood, WA Public · Certificate degree | $45,880 | 51 | 29% | — | $23,471 |
| 16 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ Public · Associate degree | $45,838 | 65 | 14% | — | $15,000 |
| 17 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,549 | 89 | 75% | — | $25,258 |
| 18 | College of Lake County Grayslake, IL Public · Certificate degree | $45,094 | 32 | 37% | — | — |
| 19 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KS Public · Certificate degree | $44,921 | 43 | 31% | — | $19,367 |
| 20 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL Public · Associate degree | $44,783 | 17 | 41% | — | $25,858 |
| 21 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Certificate degree | $44,576 | 42 | 54% | — | $21,963 |
| 22 | South Coast College Orange, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $44,536 | 48 | 17% | $22,480 | — |
| 23 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC Public · Certificate degree | $44,012 | 21 | 31% | — | — |
| 24 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL Public · Certificate degree | $43,980 | 13 | 48% | — | — |
| 25 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $43,918 | 45 | 60% | $20,981 | $24,250 |
| 26 | Rose State College Midwest City, OK Public · Associate degree | $43,518 | 18 | 20% | — | $14,591 |
| 27 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,499 | 49 | 38% | — | $35,238 |
| 28 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $43,341 | 15 | 86% | $33,106 | — |
| 29 | Generations College Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $43,061 | 12 | 11% | $20,789 | $24,750 |
| 30 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Public · Associate degree | $42,994 | 7 | 36% | — | $14,348 |
| 31 | University of Houston - Clear Lake Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,723 | 14 | 52% | — | $20,625 |
| 32 | Portland Community College Portland, OR Public · Associate degree | $42,463 | 52 | 18% | — | $23,250 |
| 33 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI Public · Certificate degree | $42,262 | 38 | 21% | — | $14,083 |
| 34 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,973 | 221 | 65% | $28,911 | $37,652 |
| 35 | Marist University Poughkeepsie, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $41,431 | 47 | 80% | $33,867 | $26,000 |
| 36 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,375 | 331 | 50% | — | $25,974 |
| 37 | Johnston Community College Smithfield, NC Public · Certificate degree | $41,278 | 30 | 37% | — | — |
| 38 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL Public · Associate degree | $40,782 | 32 | 46% | — | $12,950 |
| 39 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,778 | 55 | 67% | — | $21,500 |
| 40 | Meredith College Raleigh, NC Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $40,694 | 26 | 70% | $19,552 | $27,176 |
| 41 | Crestpoint University Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · Associate degree | $40,585 | 72 | 33% | $15,215 | $25,250 |
| 42 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Public · Certificate degree | $40,429 | 24 | 25% | — | $21,625 |
| 43 | Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA Public · Associate degree | $40,240 | 23 | 21% | — | $13,337 |
| 44 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Associate degree | $40,049 | 68 | 57% | $10,199 | $26,419 |
| 45 | Herzing University - Atlanta Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $39,952 | 6 | 14% | $22,740 | $31,441 |
| 46 | Herzing University - Madison Madison, WI Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $39,952 | 12 | 28% | $20,965 | $31,441 |
| 47 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,824 | 72 | 57% | — | $22,777 |
| 48 | Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UT Public · Associate degree | $39,729 | 30 | 29% | — | $12,250 |
| 49 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FL Public · Associate degree | $39,517 | 72 | 34% | — | $27,000 |
| 50 | Center for Advanced Legal Studies Houston, TX Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $39,387 | 212 | 62% | $10,957 | $14,704 |
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.
Concentrations within Legal Support Services
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Legal Administrative Assistant/SecretaryCIP 22.0301
A program that prepares individuals to serve as legal office managers, special assistants, and legal secretaries
- Legal Assistant/ParalegalCIP 22.0302
A program that prepares individuals to perform research, drafting, investigatory, record-keeping and related administrative functions under the supervision of an attorney or court
- Court Reporting and Captioning/Court ReporterCIP 22.0303
A program that prepares individuals to record and transcribe examinations, testimony, judicial orders and instructions, legal opinions, and other formal proceedings via print or electronic methods
- Court InterpreterCIP 22.0304
A program of study that prepares individuals to provide accurate translation and interpretation between two or more languages for parties involved in a legal proceeding
- ScopistCIP 22.0305
An instructional program that prepares individuals to perform editing and word processing on a court reporter transcript to ensure the accuracy of the transcripts
- Legal Support Services, OtherCIP 22.0399
Any program in legal support services not listed above.
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 of $38,981 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); 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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