Best institutions to study Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter
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.
32 U.S. institutions graduated 431 Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 22.0303, a specialization of Legal Support Services (CIP 22.03), and leads most directly to the Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners occupation (BLS SOC 27-3092).
About Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter programs
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. Includes instruction in legal terminology, legal transcription, shorthand, verbatim recording, equipment operation and procedures, applicable regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
See also: 51.0708 - Medical Transcription/Transcriptionist., 10.0204 - Voice Writing Technology/Technician.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter program prepares individuals for a vital role in the legal field by training them to accurately record and transcribe legal proceedings. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career that involves working closely with the legal system and requires strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills.
Students will gain essential skills in legal terminology, transcription, and the operation of recording equipment. Coursework emphasizes active listening, critical thinking, and the ability to produce accurate transcripts of formal proceedings.
Credentials awarded
What Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years194 graduates / yr · 6 institutions45%
- Associate's degree100 graduates / yr · 23 institutions23%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year97 graduates / yr · 13 institutions23%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years38 graduates / yr · 10 institutions8.8%
- Bachelor's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 685 |
| 2013 | 702 |
| 2014 | 669 |
| 2015 | 691 |
| 2016 | 532 |
| 2017 | 436 |
| 2018 | 537 |
| 2019 | 321 |
| 2020 | 296 |
| 2021 | 314 |
| 2022 | 287 |
| 2023 | 328 |
| 2024 | 380 |
| 2025 | 431 |
Top 32 institutions for Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter, 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 | Downey Adult School Downey, CAPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 85 | 31% | — | — |
| 2 | South Coast College Orange, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 41 | 17% | $22,480 | $44,536 |
| 3 | Lamar State College - Orange Orange, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 37% | — | — |
| 4 | Tri - Community Adult Education Covina, CAPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 32 | — | — | — |
| 5 | Arlington Career Institute Arlington, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 25 | 72% | $25,603 | — |
| 6 | Atlantic Technical College Coconut Creek, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 65% | — | — |
| 7 | San Antonio College San Antonio, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 26% | — | — |
| 8 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 15 | 31% | — | — |
| 9 | Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 15 | 11% | — | — |
| 10 | College of Court Reporting Inc Valparaiso, INPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 12 | 0% | $41,410 | — |
| 11 | Plaza College Forest Hills, NYPrivate for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 68% | $19,409 | $29,454 |
| 12 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NYPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 55% | — | — |
| 13 | College of Marin Kentfield, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 39% | — | — |
| 14 | Five Towns College Dix Hills, NYPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 10 | 55% | $22,977 | — |
| 15 | GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAssociate's | 9 | 29% | — | — |
| 16 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAssociate's | 9 | 24% | — | — |
| 17 | Anoka Technical College Anoka, MNPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 66% | — | — |
| 18 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 8 | 24% | — | — |
| 19 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 65% | — | — |
| 20 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IAPublicAssociate's | 7 | 39% | — | $49,137 |
| 21 | Humphreys University Stockton, CAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 6 | 62% | $11,410 | — |
| 22 | Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 27% | — | — |
| 23 | Green River College Auburn, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 39% | — | — |
| 24 | Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, ALPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 38% | — | — |
| 25 | Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MSPublicAssociate's | 4 | 37% | — | — |
| 26 | Cypress College Cypress, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 37% | — | — |
| 27 | Taft College Taft, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2 | 28% | — | — |
| 28 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WIPublicAssociate's | 2 | 50% | — | — |
| 29 | Black Hawk College Moline, ILPublicAssociate's | 1 | 40% | — | — |
| 30 | Lake Land College Mattoon, ILPublicAssociate's | 1 | 58% | — | — |
| 31 | Sitting Bull College Fort Yates, NDPublicAssociate's | 1 | 22% | — | — |
| 32 | Clark State College Springfield, OHPublicAssociate's | 1 | 22% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Legal Support Services field (CIP 22.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 16 states
Where Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter graduates come from. Each state links to all Legal Support Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7 | 178 | Downey Adult School85 / yr |
| Texas | 6 | 109 | Lamar State College - Orange34 / yr |
| New York | 3 | 32 | Plaza College11 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 23 | Atlantic Technical College23 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 16 | Cuyahoga Community College District15 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 12 | College of Court Reporting Inc12 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 10 | Fox Valley Technical College8 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 9 | GateWay Community College9 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 9 | Community College of Allegheny County9 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 8 | Anoka Technical College8 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 7 | Des Moines Area Community College7 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 6 | Green River College6 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 5 | Gadsden State Community College5 / yr |
| Mississippi | 1 | 4 | Pearl River Community College4 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 2 | Black Hawk College1 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 1 | Sitting Bull College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3092, Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program typically become Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners. The job outlook indicates little or no change in employment, with about 1,700 annual openings and a median wage of $67,310. Most positions require a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 22.0303
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captionersprimary SOC 27-3092 | $72,420 | -0.3% Little or no change | ~1,700 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter 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
- Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.
- Proofread transcripts for correct spelling of words.
- Ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements.
- Provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public.
- Transcribe recorded proceedings in accordance with established formats.
- Log and store exhibits from court proceedings.
Tools and technology used
Other Legal Support Services specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Legal Support Services (CIP 22.03).
- Legal Assistant/CIP 22.0302
Paralegal 9,640 graduates / yr462 institutions - Legal Administrative Assistant/CIP 22.0301
Secretary 366 graduates / yr45 institutions - Legal Support ServicesCIP 22.0399partial data233 graduates / yr5 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes 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.
Common questions
What is court reporting?+
Court reporting involves recording and transcribing legal proceedings, such as trials and depositions.
What skills do I need for this program?+
Core skills include active listening, writing, and critical thinking.
What kind of jobs can I get after graduation?+
Graduates typically work as court reporters or simultaneous captioners.
What is the expected salary for court reporters?+
The median wage for court reporters is approximately $67,310.
What is the CIP code for Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter?+
Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter is CIP 22.0303 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Legal Support Services (CIP 22.03). NCES defines it as: 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. Includes instruction in legal terminology, legal transcription, shorthand, verbatim recording, equipment operation and procedures, applicable regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
How many institutions offer Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter programs?+
32 U.S. institutions reported Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 431 credentials in the year. That is 4.0% of all Legal Support Services graduates.
How much do Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners occupation, which Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter most directly leads to, pays a median of $72,420 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Legal Support Services field report median earnings of $44,536 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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