by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Tribal/Indigenous Law involves the study of An Advanced, Professional Study Of The Law, Policies, And Regulations Affecting Federal Indian Law, Tribal Law And Policy, And Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights. Examples: [Tribal Policy, Law, And Government], [Indigenous Law], [Indigenous And Federal Aboriginal Law]. Read on to learn the essential details every tribal/indigenous law major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering tribal/indigenous law programs.
Across the country, tribal/indigenous law is a popular field of study, with 64 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Tribal/Indigenous Law Schools ranking analyzes these 8 schools to determine the best overall colleges for tribal/indigenous law students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of tribal/indigenous law programs later in this article.
Coursework for Tribal/Indigenous Law emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations tribal/indigenous law graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a tribal/indigenous law program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a tribal/indigenous law major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several tribal/indigenous 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 19 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 45 |
People currently working in careers related to tribal/indigenous 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 tribal/indigenous law careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in tribal/indigenous law can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to tribal/indigenous law.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to tribal/indigenous law.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of tribal/indigenous law graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 tribal/indigenous law graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers tribal/indigenous law grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
With 8 different tribal/indigenous law programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased tribal/indigenous law school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in tribal/indigenous 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.
