Grad school ยท Law and legal studies
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduate programs: earnings and debt by school
130 colleges award master's degrees in legal research and advanced professional studies. Graduates of the typical program earned $85,798 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $52,602 in federal loans taken at the school.
Master's programs130
Graduates in 2023-248,855
Typical median debt$52,602
Typical earnings 1 yr after$85,798
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$107,540
Earnings to debt1.6x
Official field: Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.
| Degree level | Programs | Typical earnings 1 yr after | Typical median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's | 130 | $85,798 | $52,602 |
| Doctoral | 36 | n/a | n/a |
| Professional doctorate | 7 | n/a | n/a |
Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay
Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.
Master's programs in legal research and advanced professional studies
Highest first-year earnings
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC | 538 | n/a | $171,631 | $90,696 |
| Boston UniversityBoston, MA | 220 | $107,660 | $156,087 | $73,861 |
| University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA | 31 | $104,638 | $148,235 | $71,840 |
| University of FloridaGainesville, FL | 81 | $123,671 | $142,291 | $38,083 |
| University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | 58 | $160,316 | $136,623 | n/a |
| Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ | 72 | $126,937 | $131,892 | $49,440 |
| Golden Gate UniversitySan Francisco, CA | 67 | n/a | $131,366 | n/a |
| Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX | 434 | $101,110 | $128,518 | $41,000 |
| Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL | 95 | $95,958 | $123,695 | $57,625 |
| Samford UniversityBirmingham, AL | 12 | $100,585 | $122,699 | n/a |
| University of HoustonHouston, TX | 22 | n/a | $122,385 | n/a |
| University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA | 105 | $82,512 | $120,793 | $58,549 |
| The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL | 21 | $112,733 | $120,262 | n/a |
| George Washington UniversityWashington, DC | 163 | $102,920 | $117,955 | $69,380 |
| Fordham UniversityBronx, NY | 115 | $114,593 | $117,083 | $65,818 |
| University of Maryland BaltimoreBaltimore, MD | 38 | $85,338 | $112,984 | $41,000 |
| University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 225 | $86,796 | $112,923 | n/a |
| University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL | 0 | $89,077 | $111,159 | n/a |
| Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA | 40 | $84,213 | $108,211 | $79,836 |
| University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL | 155 | $88,927 | $108,073 | $91,882 |
| University of DenverDenver, CO | 9 | $91,638 | $107,540 | n/a |
| Widener UniversityChester, PA | 39 | n/a | $100,397 | n/a |
| Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL | 346 | $87,971 | $100,339 | $41,000 |
| Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 62 | $85,961 | $98,481 | $49,538 |
| American UniversityWashington, DC | 139 | $74,345 | $96,768 | $63,037 |
| University of TulsaTulsa, OK | 0 | n/a | $95,372 | n/a |
| Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY | 22 | $77,972 | $93,902 | $66,508 |
| Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL | 48 | $69,181 | $91,014 | $58,032 |
| University of the PacificStockton, CA | 26 | $77,144 | $87,881 | $41,000 |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 416 | $83,328 | $84,932 | $65,303 |
| Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX | 33 | $67,900 | $84,447 | n/a |
| University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO | 7 | $70,584 | $83,264 | n/a |
| Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ | 51 | $70,379 | $80,281 | $49,263 |
| Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ | 351 | $70,379 | $80,281 | $49,263 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK | 196 | $81,657 | $79,624 | $41,000 |
| Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA | 94 | $66,623 | $73,551 | $119,067 |
| Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA | 151 | $69,532 | $72,389 | $27,333 |
| Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO | 277 | $75,904 | $72,301 | $64,320 |
| Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 27 | $83,018 | $67,634 | $44,889 |
| St. John's University-New YorkQueens, NY | 42 | n/a | $56,014 | $59,414 |
| Crestpoint UniversityPhoenix, AZ | 18 | $57,159 | $54,560 | $38,375 |
| New York UniversityNew York, NY | 475 | $204,875 | n/a | $87,653 |
| Duke UniversityDurham, NC | 21 | $196,585 | n/a | n/a |
| Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA | 65 | $142,363 | n/a | $49,160 |
| Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA | 39 | $115,466 | n/a | $55,666 |
| University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN | 28 | $105,153 | n/a | n/a |
| Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY | 337 | $101,570 | n/a | n/a |
| Florida International UniversityMiami, FL | 53 | $92,097 | n/a | $34,683 |
| University of DaytonDayton, OH | 37 | $87,558 | n/a | $44,354 |
| George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA | 60 | $85,635 | n/a | $39,930 |
| University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO | 26 | $76,793 | n/a | n/a |
| Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN | 28 | $74,333 | n/a | n/a |
| Lewis & Clark CollegePortland, OR | 50 | $71,882 | n/a | $64,750 |
| University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN | 17 | $64,343 | n/a | n/a |
| Hamline UniversitySaint Paul, MN | 22 | $63,668 | n/a | $28,253 |
| Saint Anselm CollegeManchester, NH | 19 | $54,474 | n/a | $20,500 |
| Barry UniversityMiami, FL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Baylor UniversityWaco, TX | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Capital UniversityColumbus, OH | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH | 52 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Chapman UniversityOrange, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OH | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY | 205 | n/a | n/a | $46,509 |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA | 171 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL | 98 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Loyola University New OrleansNew Orleans, LA | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA | 31 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston, MA | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL | 261 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pace UniversityNew York, NY | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 176 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-PoncePonce, PR | 10 | n/a | n/a | $103,683 |
| Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| St. Mary's UniversitySan Antonio, TX | 41 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| St. Thomas UniversityMiami Gardens, FL | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Stanford UniversityStanford, CA | 83 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Stetson UniversityDeLand, FL | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Suffolk UniversityBoston, MA | 36 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Texas Southern UniversityHouston, TX | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Tufts UniversityMedford, MA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Akron Main CampusAkron, OH | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ArizonaTucson, AZ | 53 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA | 361 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of California-DavisDavis, CA | 47 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA | 35 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ChicagoChicago, IL | 78 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH | 35 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT | 61 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of GeorgiaAthens, GA | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL | 85 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of IowaIowa City, IA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of KansasLawrence, KS | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | 33 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN | 30 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of MississippiUniversity, MS | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas City, MO | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of OregonEugene, OR | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA | 102 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PR | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Southern MainePortland, ME | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ToledoToledo, OH | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA | 31 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC | 48 | n/a | n/a | $61,500 |
| Washburn UniversityTopeka, KS | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI | 23 | n/a | n/a | $41,000 |
| Western New England UniversitySpringfield, MA | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Willamette UniversitySalem, OR | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Yeshiva UniversityNew York, NY | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Doctoral programs in legal research and advanced professional studies
Professional doctorate programs in legal research and advanced professional studies
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Duke UniversityDurham, NC | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA | 210 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pace UniversityNew York, NY | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Suffolk UniversityBoston, MA | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do legal research and advanced professional studies graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $85,798 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.
How much debt do legal research and advanced professional studies graduate students take on?
The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $52,602 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.