Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 37 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies pays
Career outlook for Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates
The job market for the occupations Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyers | 864,800 | +4.1% | $151,160 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Law teachers, postsecondary | 29,500 | +2.2% | $126,650 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies vs similar majors
How Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies stacks up against the closest fields in Legal Professions & Studies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies Legal Professions & Studies · this major | Law | Legal Professions and Studies, Other | Non-Professional Legal Studies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 80 A | 80 A | 69 B | 57 C |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $100,424 | $109,976 | $76,775 | $65,123 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $89,146 | $77,253 | $67,031 | $41,774 |
| ROI vs cost | +472% | +472% | +245% | +148% |
| Typical debt | $68,328 | $114,294 | $55,272 | $25,515 |
| Colleges offering it | 37 | 204 | 26 | 42 |
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Certificate | $145,138 | $37,402 | +2,416% | Strong return |
| 2 | Duke University Durham, NC | Certificate | $193,055 | — | +1,150% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | Certificate | $115,020 | $45,899 | +858% | Strong return |
| 4 | University of Houston Houston, TX | Certificate | $97,668 | — | +822% | Strong return |
| 5 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Doctoral | $177,387 | $75,943 | +817% | Strong return |
| 6 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL | Certificate | $117,363 | $113,247 | +750% | Strong return |
| 7 | Boston University Boston, MA | Certificate | $139,643 | $61,150 | +689% | Strong return |
| 8 | Western New England University Springfield, MA | Master's | $85,147 | — | +636% | Strong return |
| 9 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL | Certificate | $119,652 | $45,195 | +603% | Strong return |
| 10 | Georgetown University Washington, DC | Certificate | $169,366 | $97,008 | +526% | Strong return |
| 11 | Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ | Certificate | $134,491 | $47,995 | +525% | Strong return |
| 12 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA | Certificate | $121,289 | $49,688 | +483% | Strong return |
| 13 | University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Certificate | $133,773 | — | +436% | Strong return |
| 14 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA | Certificate | $130,361 | $135,168 | +400% | Strong return |
| 15 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ | Certificate | $81,196 | $53,770 | +356% | Strong return |
| 16 | University of Denver Denver, CO | Certificate | $110,215 | — | +351% | Strong return |
| 17 | George Washington University Washington, DC | Certificate | $113,751 | $78,277 | +293% | Strong return |
| 18 | Emory University Atlanta, GA | Certificate | $88,380 | $66,876 | +278% | Strong return |
| 19 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | Certificate | $106,476 | $58,186 | +271% | Strong return |
| 20 | University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK | Certificate | $72,656 | $50,960 | +252% | Strong return |
| 21 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | Certificate | $104,281 | $60,100 | +220% | Strong return |
| 22 | American University Washington, DC | Certificate | $98,927 | $65,926 | +181% | Strong return |
| 23 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA | Associate's | $60,571 | $25,000 | +179% | Strong return |
| 24 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL | Certificate | $86,260 | — | +177% | Strong return |
| 25 | Widener University Chester, PA | Certificate | $72,106 | — | +163% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.