Dispute Resolution: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Dispute Resolution prepares professionals to effectively manage and resolve conflicts across diverse environments through structured, ethical, and collaborative approaches. This interdisciplinary field equips learners with practical tools to de-escalate tensions, facilitate dialogue, and achieve mutually acceptable outcomes in complex situations.
- Negotiation Strategies: Techniques for achieving agreement through direct communication, interest-based bargaining, and strategic planning in high-stakes interactions.
- Mediation Practices: Facilitation methods that guide conflicting parties toward self-determined solutions with the support of a neutral third party.
- Arbitration Procedures: Formal processes for resolving disputes through a neutral arbitrator who renders a binding decision based on evidence and applicable standards.
- Conflict Analysis: Frameworks for identifying root causes of disputes, assessing power dynamics, and evaluating the broader social or organizational context.
- Legal and Ethical Frameworks: Understanding of laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines that govern dispute resolution in professional and institutional settings.
- Applications in Business and Labor Relations: Specialized approaches to resolving workplace conflicts, collective bargaining disagreements, and organizational change challenges.
- Domestic and Family Conflict Resolution: Skills tailored to sensitive interpersonal disputes, including divorce, custody, and family mediation, emphasizing empathy and psychological awareness.
Dispute Resolution Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Dispute Resolution Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Dispute Resolution degrees, including Law Teachers, Postsecondary, Business Teachers, Postsecondary and Labor Relations Specialists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 177,030 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1112 | $126,650 | $58,330 - $239,200 | 22,800 | N/A |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1011 | $97,270 | $46,460 - $210,530 | 81,780 | N/A |
| Labor Relations Specialists 13-1075 | $93,500 | $49,880 - $153,440 | 64,590 | $44.95 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators 23-1022 | $67,710 | $46,200 - $133,480 | 7,860 | $32.55 |
Dispute Resolution Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $71,163 in Mississippi to $133,500 in Alaska—a 88% difference. The highest-paying states include Alaska, District of Columbia, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 177,030 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Dispute Resolution by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 33 institutions offering Dispute Resolution programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Dispute Resolution is found at Pepperdine University (134 graduates), Boise State University (BBU) (52 graduates), CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (36 graduates), Syracuse University (33 graduates), and University of Southern California (USC) (31 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 586 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University |
Master's
Other Award
|
134 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
52 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
Other Award
|
36 | New York, New York | Public | jjay.cuny.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Postbac Cert.
|
33 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
31 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
29 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Master's
|
29 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
26 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Yeshiva University (YU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
19 | New York, New York | Private | yu.edu |
| Creighton University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
17 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | creighton.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| University of Baltimore (UBalt) |
Master's
|
9 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ubalt.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
|
9 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| University of Akron |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Walden University |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | waldenu.edu |
| Dominican University |
Master's
|
7 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | dom.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Other Award
|
7 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | mitchellhamline.edu |
| Southern Oregon University (SOU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Ashland, Oregon | Public | sou.edu |
| Touro University Worldwide (TUW) |
Master's
|
6 | Los Alamitos, California | Private | tuw.edu |
| Roosevelt University |
Master's
|
4 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | roosevelt.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Other Award
|
4 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
4 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Private | emu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Maine (UMA) |
Other Award
|
1 | Augusta, Maine | Public | uma.edu |
| Oregon Institute of Technology (OTI) |
Other Award
|
1 | Klamath Falls, Oregon | Public | oit.edu |
| Juniata College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania | Private | juniata.edu |
| Temple University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Other Award
|
1 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Dispute Resolution programs
How much can I earn with a Dispute Resolution degree?
Salaries for Dispute Resolution graduates vary by role and location. Law Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $126,650 annually, while Business Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $97,270. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Alaska average $133,500 compared to $71,163 in Mississippi. Approximately 177,030 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Dispute Resolution programs?
Currently 34 accredited institutions offer Dispute Resolution degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Pepperdine University (134 graduates), Boise State University (BBU) (52 graduates), and CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (36 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Dispute Resolution growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 133 in 2010 to a peak of 595 in 2020, before declining slightly to 586 in 2023-24. This represents a 341% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Dispute Resolution degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Law Teachers, Postsecondary, Business Teachers, Postsecondary, and Labor Relations Specialists. Related occupations employ approximately 177,030 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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