Comparative Law: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Comparative Law explores the structure, principles, and evolution of legal systems across different nations and cultural contexts. This rigorous academic field enables students to analyze legal traditions, assess doctrinal differences, and understand how historical, political, and social factors shape legal development worldwide.
- Legal Traditions and Systems: Examine major legal frameworks such as civil law, common law, religious law, and customary law, including their foundational principles and institutional structures.
- Constitutional Law Across Jurisdictions: Investigate how constitutional design, interpretation, and judicial review vary among nations, with emphasis on rights protection and separation of powers.
- Private and Public Law Comparisons: Analyze distinctions and convergences in areas like contract law, property rights, administrative law, and criminal justice systems in different countries.
- International and Transnational Legal Norms: Study the role of treaties, international courts, and supranational institutions in harmonizing or diverging national legal practices.
- Legal Philosophy and Jurisprudence: Explore theoretical underpinnings of law, including natural law, legal positivism, critical legal studies, and legal realism, across cultural and historical contexts.
- Law and Social Change: Evaluate how legal systems respond to globalization, human rights movements, technological innovation, and demographic shifts in diverse societies.
Comparative Law Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Comparative Law Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Comparative Law 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 |
Comparative Law 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 Comparative Law by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 6 institutions offering Comparative Law 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 Comparative Law is found at University of San Diego (USD) (16 graduates), Washington University in St Louis (WashU) (7 graduates), University of Florida (UF) (3 graduates), Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (2 graduates), and Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (2 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Master's
|
16 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Master's
|
3 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Master's
|
2 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Comparative Law programs
How much can I earn with a Comparative Law degree?
Salaries for Comparative Law 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 Comparative Law programs?
Currently 6 accredited institutions offer Comparative Law degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of San Diego (USD) (16 graduates), Washington University in St Louis (WashU) (7 graduates), and University of Florida (UF) (3 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 Comparative Law growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 54 in 2010 to a peak of 39 in 2020, before declining slightly to 31 in 2023-24. This represents a 43% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, 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 Comparative Law 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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