Best colleges for Non-Professional Legal Studies in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Vanderbilt University, Belmont University and Lipscomb University award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 49, 17 and 10 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Tennessee colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies and award 82 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Non-Professional Legal Studies program offers students an opportunity to explore legal principles and practices without qualifying for bar admission. This program is ideal for individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-law field who…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. 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 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,967 | 10 | 72% | $24,309 | $24,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees in Tennessee
Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 49 | Not reported |
| 2 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 3 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 10 | $32,967 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 5 | South College Knoxville Private for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011).
Top skills
What Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Non-Professional Legal Studies programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees?+
Vanderbilt University (49 graduates a year), Belmont University (17 graduates a year) and Lipscomb University (10 graduates a year) award the most Non-Professional Legal Studies degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Tennessee colleges offer Non-Professional Legal Studies.
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Tennessee is $60,790 (median $58,820), across about 6,080 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Non-Professional Legal Studies program?+
The Non-Professional Legal Studies program offers students an opportunity to explore legal principles and practices without qualifying for bar admission. This program is ideal for individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-law field who…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop writing, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +0.2% growth with around 39,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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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