by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Intellectual Property Law involves the study of Intellectual Property Law. An Advanced, Professional Study Of The Law, Policies, And Regulations Related To Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, And Related Issues. Includes Instruction In Patent Law, Copyright Law, Trademark Law, Intellectual Property Licensing And Litigation, And Applications Such As Art And Entertainment Law, Communications Law, Information Technology Law, Sports Law, And Chemical And Biotech Patent Law. Examples: [Intellectual Property Law ( Ll.m.)], [Intellectual Property Law (J.s.d./s.j.d.)]. Continue reading for the key facts every intellectual property law student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering intellectual property law programs.
Nationwide, intellectual property law draws strong interest, with 115 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Intellectual Property Law Schools ranking analyzes these 15 schools to determine the best overall colleges for intellectual property law students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of intellectual property law programs later in this article.
Programs in Intellectual Property Law build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations intellectual property law graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a intellectual property law program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a intellectual property law major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several intellectual property law 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 115 |
People currently working in careers related to intellectual property law tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 43.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in intellectual property law careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in intellectual property law opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to intellectual property law.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to intellectual property law.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of intellectual property law graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $93,383 |
| 5 years | $107,509 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for intellectual property law graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers intellectual property law grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
With 15 different intellectual property law programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased intellectual property law school rankings to help you.
Those considering intellectual property law, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
