Intellectual Property Law: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Intellectual Property Law is a specialized field focused on the legal frameworks governing the creation, protection, and commercialization of intangible assets. This advanced program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of how legal principles safeguard innovation, creativity, and proprietary knowledge across diverse industries.
- Patent Law: Explores the rules and procedures for securing and enforcing exclusive rights to inventions, including utility, design, and plant patents.
- Copyright Law: Examines the legal protection of original works of authorship, covering literary, artistic, musical, and digital creations.
- Trademark Law: Focuses on the legal mechanisms for protecting brand identifiers such as names, logos, and slogans that distinguish goods and services.
- Trade Secrets Protection: Addresses the legal strategies for maintaining the confidentiality of valuable business information and preventing unauthorized use.
- Intellectual Property Licensing: Investigates the legal agreements that govern the lawful use of protected assets by third parties, including terms, royalties, and enforcement mechanisms.
- IP Litigation: Covers dispute resolution processes involving infringement claims, enforcement actions, and defense strategies in federal and international courts.
- Specialized Applications: Includes advanced study in niche domains such as art and entertainment law, communications law, information technology law, sports law, and the complex regulatory landscape of chemical and biotechnology patenting.
Intellectual Property Law Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Intellectual Property Law Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Intellectual Property 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 |
Intellectual Property 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 Intellectual Property Law by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 15 institutions offering Intellectual Property 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 Intellectual Property Law is found at University of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce School of Law (21 graduates), Fordham University (21 graduates), Yeshiva University (YU) (17 graduates), Washington University in St Louis (WashU) (10 graduates), and American University (AU) (9 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 115 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 New Hampshire |
Master's
|
21 | Concord, New Hampshire | Public | law.unh.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
|
21 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Yeshiva University (YU) |
Master's
|
17 | New York, New York | Private | yu.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Master's
|
10 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
|
9 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Master's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
|
4 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| George Mason University |
Master's
|
4 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
|
2 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
|
2 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
2 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Golden Gate University (GGU) |
Master's
|
1 | San Francisco, California | Private | ggu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Intellectual Property Law programs
How much can I earn with a Intellectual Property Law degree?
Salaries for Intellectual Property 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 Intellectual Property Law programs?
Currently 15 accredited institutions offer Intellectual Property Law degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce School of Law (21 graduates), Fordham University (21 graduates), and Yeshiva University (YU) (17 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 Intellectual Property Law growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 75 in 2010 to a peak of 127 in 2020, before declining slightly to 115 in 2023-24. This represents a 53% 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 Intellectual Property 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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