by our College Data Analytics Team
[Legal Research](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their legal research graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 46 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying legal research schools.
What’s on this page:
The right legal research school can pay off in your paycheck for years to come. That is why we built our Highest Paid Legal Research Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its legal research graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Legal Research Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools whose legal research graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in legal research, no school beat Georgetown University this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from Georgetown University make a median of around $169,366 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in legal research will find them at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $130,948 annually.
University Of San Francisco produces some of the highest-paid graduates in legal research, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from University Of San Francisco make a median of around $133,773 per year.
Boston University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in legal research, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Legal Research graduates of Boston University earn a median of about $139,643 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Florida earned it the #5 place for legal research. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Legal Research graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of about $145,138 a year early in their careers.
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University Of San Diego came in at #6 for legal research graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from University Of San Diego make a median of around $130,361 per year.
Seton Hall University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Legal Research graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of about $134,491 a year early in their careers.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #8 position for legal research graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from University Of St Thomas Minnesota make a median of around $114,376 per year.
Temple University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for legal research. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. Early-career legal research graduates from Temple University make a median of around $121,289 per year.
University Of Denver earned the #10 position for legal research graduate earnings this year. University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $110,215.
Golden Gate University San Francisco ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, Golden Gate University San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from Golden Gate University San Francisco make a median of around $106,626 per year.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for legal research. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Early-career legal research graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $102,721 per year.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #13 for legal research graduate earnings this year. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $106,476.
George Washington University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Legal Research graduates of George Washington University earn a median of about $113,751 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Alabama landed the #15 spot for legal research salaries this year. The University Of Alabama is a public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from The University Of Alabama typically earn about $119,652 annually.
University Of Houston came in at #16 for legal research graduate earnings this year. University Of Houston is a public school located in the city of Houston. Early-career legal research graduates from University Of Houston make a median of around $97,668 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #17 spot for legal research salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Legal Research graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $91,677 a year early in their careers.
Southern Methodist University came in at #18 for legal research graduate earnings this year. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,281.
University Of Maryland Baltimore earned the #19 position for legal research graduate earnings this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public school located in the city of Baltimore. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore typically earn about $86,070 annually.
Fordham University landed the #20 spot for legal research salaries this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from Fordham University typically earn about $82,764 annually.
University Of Dayton ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from University Of Dayton typically earn about $82,071 annually.
Florida State University came in at #22 for legal research graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. Legal Research graduates of Florida State University earn a median of about $80,899 a year early in their careers.
James Madison University earned the #23 position for legal research graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Legal Research graduates of James Madison University earn a median of about $60,571 a year early in their careers.
University Of Miami ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,260.
American University landed the #25 spot for legal research salaries this year. American University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from American University typically earn about $98,927 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid legal research ranking:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their legal research graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 46 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.