by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Legal Studies involves the study of Legal Studies. A Program Of Study That Focuses On Law And Legal Issues From The Perspective Of The Social Sciences And Humanities. Examples: [Juris Master (J.m.) Degree], [Master Of Legal Studies]. Read on to learn the key facts every legal studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering legal studies programs.
Nationwide, legal studies draws strong interest, with 4,068 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Legal Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 175 schools to determine the best overall colleges for legal studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of legal studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Legal Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations legal studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a legal studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a legal studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several legal studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 58 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 389 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,786 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 828 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to legal studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 20.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 18.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in legal studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in legal studies prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to legal studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to legal studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | 197,456 | -0.5% |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 60,495 | 4.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of legal studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $41,185 |
| 4 years | $51,677 |
| 5 years | $63,687 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for legal studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers legal studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $134,350 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $80,735 |
With 175 different legal studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased legal studies school rankings to help you.
Students interested in legal studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pre-Law Studies | 723 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies, Other | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
