Legal Assistant and Paralegal: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Legal Assistant and Paralegal programs equip students with the specialized knowledge and practical skills needed to support legal professionals in diverse practice areas. This training focuses on mastering core administrative and analytical tasks essential to the efficient operation of law offices, courts, and legal departments.
- Legal Research: Learn systematic methods for locating, interpreting, and applying statutes, case law, and legal precedents to support case preparation and client representation.
- Drafting Legal Documents: Develop precision in creating pleadings, motions, contracts, affidavits, and other formal instruments that adhere to jurisdictional standards and legal formatting.
- Case Investigation and Appraisal: Gain techniques for gathering evidence, conducting interviews, analyzing facts, and assessing the viability and strength of legal claims.
- Legal Pleading and Procedure: Understand the structure and requirements of formal court filings, including complaints, answers, and motions, along with procedural timelines and rules of civil and criminal litigation.
- Courtroom and Administrative Procedures: Study the operational protocols of judicial settings, including filing systems, court calendars, hearings, and the coordination of legal logistics.
- Legal Specializations: Explore focused areas such as family law, real estate, corporate law, criminal justice, intellectual property, and estate planning to build expertise in specific legal domains.
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Legal Assistant and Paralegal degrees, including Legal Support Workers, All Other, Paralegals and Legal Assistants and Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers. 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 462,770 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers, All Other 23-2099 | $68,760 | $41,510 - $176,950 | 47,380 | $33.06 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants 23-2011 | $61,010 | $39,710 - $98,990 | 367,220 | $29.33 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers 23-2093 | $54,980 | $36,710 - $87,240 | 48,170 | $26.43 |
Legal Assistant and Paralegal Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $43,920 in Arkansas to $96,147 in Virginia—a 119% difference. The highest-paying states include Virginia, District of Columbia, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 462,770 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 Legal Assistant and Paralegal by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Legal Assistant and Paralegal 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 Legal Assistant and Paralegal is found at Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) (207 graduates), Liberty University (200 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (195 graduates), Bryant & Stratton College, Online (159 graduates), and University of San Diego (USD) (121 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,627 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
207 | Houston, Texas | Private | paralegal.edu |
| Liberty University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
200 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
195 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Bryant & Stratton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
159 | Orchard Park, New York | Private | bryantstratton.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Postbac Cert.
|
121 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
109 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
104 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
92 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
88 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fsw.edu |
| National Paralegal College (NPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
85 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | nationalparalegal.edu |
| Post University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
80 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Private | post.edu |
| Bryan University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
76 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | bryanuniversity.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
76 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Lone Star College System (LSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
75 | The Woodlands, Texas | Public | lonestar.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
74 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| West Los Angeles College (WLAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
73 | Culver City, California | Public | wlac.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
71 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fgcu.edu |
| De Anza College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
68 | Cupertino, California | Public | deanza.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
66 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
66 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| Rasmussen University |
Associate's
Other Award
|
64 | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Private | rasmussen.edu |
| San Diego Miramar College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
62 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmiramar.edu |
| Keiser University |
Associate's
|
61 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
61 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
59 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
56 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
53 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Coastline Community College (CC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
53 | Fountain Valley, California | Public | coastline.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
Residency
|
53 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
52 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
51 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
51 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| Arlington Career Institute (ACI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
50 | Grand Prairie, Texas | Private | arlingtoncareerinstitute.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
49 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| Hamline University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Postbac Cert.
|
49 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | hamline.edu |
| Merritt College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
47 | Oakland, California | Public | merritt.edu |
| Clayton State University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
47 | Morrow, Georgia | Public | clayton.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
47 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| East Los Angeles College (ELAC) |
Other Award
|
46 | Monterey Park, California | Public | elac.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
46 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
45 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Edmonds College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
43 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
43 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology (NYCCT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
43 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | citytech.cuny.edu |
| Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
43 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | cfcc.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
43 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Associate's
Postbac Cert.
|
43 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
41 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Dallas College |
Associate's
|
41 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| American National University (ANU) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
41 | Salem, Virginia | Private | an.edu |
| Rio Salado College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
40 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | rio.maricopa.edu |
| Oxnard College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
40 | Oxnard, California | Public | oxnardcollege.edu |
| Hinds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
40 | Raymond, Mississippi | Public | hindscc.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College Area (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
40 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | mccneb.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
39 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
39 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Community College of Denver (CCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
38 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ccd.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
38 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| Fullerton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
37 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullcoll.edu |
| Valencia College |
Associate's
|
37 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
37 | Godfrey, Illinois | Public | lc.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Associate's
|
37 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Marist College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
36 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| University of Cincinnati |
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Batavia, Ohio | Public | ucclermont.edu |
| Greenville Technical College (GTC) |
Associate's
|
36 | Greenville, South Carolina | Public | gvltec.edu |
| Husson University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
36 | Bangor, Maine | Private | husson.edu |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Long Island City, New York | Public | lagcc.cuny.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
35 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
34 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
34 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| College of Lake County (CLC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
34 | Grayslake, Illinois | Public | clcillinois.edu |
| Coastal Carolina Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | Jacksonville, North Carolina | Public | coastalcarolina.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
33 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| West Valley College (WVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Saratoga, California | Public | westvalley.edu |
| SUNY College of Technology (SUNY Canton) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Canton, New York | Public | canton.edu |
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | Ankeny, Iowa | Public | dmacc.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
31 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
31 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago |
Associate's
|
30 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| Midlands Technical College (MTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | West Columbia, South Carolina | Public | midlandstech.edu |
| Los Angeles City College (LACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
29 | Los Angeles, California | Public | lacitycollege.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
29 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
29 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) |
Associate's
|
29 | Annandale, Virginia | Public | nvcc.edu |
| Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Arnold, Maryland | Public | aacc.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
28 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | ccp.edu |
| Odessa College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Odessa, Texas | Public | odessa.edu |
| Johnston Community College (JCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Smithfield, North Carolina | Public | johnstoncc.edu |
| Nashville State Community College (NSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Nashville, Tennessee | Public | nscc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Legal Assistant and Paralegal programs
How much can I earn with a Legal Assistant and Paralegal degree?
Salaries for Legal Assistant and Paralegal graduates vary by role and location. Legal Support Workers, All Other earn a median of $68,760 annually, while Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn around $61,010. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Virginia average $96,147 compared to $43,920 in Arkansas. Approximately 462,770 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 Legal Assistant and Paralegal programs?
Currently 473 accredited institutions offer Legal Assistant and Paralegal degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) (207 graduates), Liberty University (200 graduates), and Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (195 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 Legal Assistant and Paralegal growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 15,467 in 2010 to a peak of 9,968 in 2020, before declining slightly to 9,493 in 2023-24. This represents a 39% 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 Legal Assistant and Paralegal degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Legal Support Workers, All Other, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, and Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers. Related occupations employ approximately 462,770 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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