American Legal Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for students seeking a comprehensive understanding of the American legal framework, this program explores the foundational principles, historical evolution, and philosophical underpinnings of U.S. law. It equips learners with analytical tools to interpret legal structures, evaluate judicial reasoning, and engage critically with constitutional governance and legal institutions.
- Legal History: Traces the development of American law from colonial origins through pivotal legal reforms, emphasizing landmark cases and legislative milestones that shaped the modern legal landscape.
- Legal Sociology: Examines the relationship between law and society, analyzing how social norms, institutions, and power dynamics influence legal behavior and policy outcomes.
- Philosophy of Law: Investigates core questions about justice, rights, authority, and the nature of legal obligation through the lens of major legal and political theories.
- Constitutional Law: Focuses on the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution, including federalism, individual rights, separation of powers, and the role of the judiciary.
- Legal Procedure: Covers the rules and processes governing civil and criminal litigation, including evidence, trial conduct, appeals, and the operation of courts at federal and state levels.
American Legal Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
American Legal Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with American Legal Studies degrees, including Lawyers and Law Teachers, Postsecondary. 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 770,550 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyers 23-1011 | $151,160 | $72,780 - $239,200 | 747,750 | $72.67 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1112 | $126,650 | $58,330 - $239,200 | 22,800 | N/A |
American Legal Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $79,245 in Mississippi to $172,710 in Delaware—a 118% difference. The highest-paying states include Delaware, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 770,550 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 American Legal Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 41 institutions offering American Legal Studies 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 American Legal Studies is found at Cornell University (205 graduates), Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) (50 graduates), Liberty University (49 graduates), Loyola Marymount University (LMU) (44 graduates), and St. Mary's University (41 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 899 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University |
Master's
|
205 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
50 | South Royalton, Vermont | Private | vermontlaw.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
49 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
44 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
| St. Mary's University |
Master's
|
41 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | stmarytx.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
|
40 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Master's
|
37 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Master's
|
35 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Amherst College |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | amherst.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Master's
|
31 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| University of California College of the Law (UC Law SF) |
Master's
|
28 | San Francisco, California | Public | uclawsf.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
|
27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
|
26 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
|
25 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
23 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
23 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Albany Law School |
Master's
|
19 | Albany, New York | Private | albanylaw.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Master's
|
18 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| Widener University |
Master's
|
16 | Chester, Pennsylvania | Private | widener.edu |
| Suffolk University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
13 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | suffolk.edu |
| Baylor University |
Master's
|
13 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
12 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
9 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Master's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Northcentral University (NCU) |
Master's
|
7 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Pepperdine University |
Master's
|
5 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Master's
|
5 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
|
4 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Master's
|
4 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Wright State University |
Other Award
|
3 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Florida Memorial University (FMU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Miami Gardens, Florida | Private | fmuniv.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
|
2 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Master's
|
1 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Master's
|
1 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Capital University |
Master's
|
1 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | capital.edu |
| Walsh University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | North Canton, Ohio | Private | walsh.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about American Legal Studies programs
How much can I earn with a American Legal Studies degree?
Salaries for American Legal Studies graduates vary by role and location. Lawyers earn a median of $151,160 annually, while Law Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $126,650. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Delaware average $172,710 compared to $79,245 in Mississippi. Approximately 770,550 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 American Legal Studies programs?
Currently 41 accredited institutions offer American Legal Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Cornell University (205 graduates), Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) (50 graduates), and Liberty University (49 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 American Legal Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 370 in 2010 to 899 in 2023-24. This represents a 143% 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 American Legal Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Lawyers, Law Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 770,550 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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