Legal Professions and Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Legal Professions and Studies encompasses a broad range of academic pathways focused on the theoretical, practical, and ethical dimensions of law and legal systems. This interdisciplinary field prepares individuals for careers in legal practice, policy development, advocacy, and related professional services by fostering critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and a deep understanding of legal frameworks.
- Constitutional Law: Examines the foundational legal principles that govern government structure, individual rights, and the balance of power among branches of government.
- Criminal Justice: Explores the processes and institutions involved in the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of criminal behavior within society.
- Contract Law: Focuses on the formation, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of legally binding agreements between parties.
- Property Law: Studies the rights and restrictions associated with the ownership, use, and transfer of real and personal property.
- Legal Research and Writing: Develops the skills necessary to locate, analyze, and communicate legal information effectively in written form.
- Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility: Investigates the moral and professional standards that guide the conduct of legal practitioners.
- Administrative Law: Addresses the rules, procedures, and decisions made by government agencies and regulatory bodies.
- International Law: Covers legal principles governing relations between nations, including treaties, human rights, and global governance.
- Legal Technology and Innovation: Introduces tools and digital platforms transforming legal service delivery, case management, and data analysis.
Legal Professions and Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Legal Professions and Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Legal Professions and Studies degrees, including . 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.
Career salary data is not available for this program.
Top Universities for Legal Professions and Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 78 institutions offering Legal Professions and 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 Legal Professions and Studies is found at Purdue University Global (248 graduates), University of Arizona (233 graduates), University of Southern California (USC) (203 graduates), Regent University (162 graduates), and Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) (97 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,487 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Global |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Professional)
|
248 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
233 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
|
203 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Regent University |
Master's
|
162 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) |
Master's
|
97 | South Royalton, Vermont | Private | vermontlaw.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
94 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
93 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
84 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Roger Williams University (RWU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
82 | Bristol, Rhode Island | Private | rwu.edu |
| St. Thomas University (STU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
77 | Miami Gardens, Florida | Private | stu.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
67 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
|
65 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
|
60 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Master's
|
58 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
51 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Yeshiva University (YU) |
Master's
|
48 | New York, New York | Private | yu.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
44 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
38 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Other Award
|
37 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
28 | New York, New York | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
|
26 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
25 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of the District of Columbia (UDC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Washington, District of Columbia | Public | udc.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
22 | Woodland Park, New Jersey | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
22 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) |
Other Award
|
21 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | udmercy.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
21 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
20 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Golden Gate University (GGU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | San Francisco, California | Private | ggu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Master's
|
20 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| Drake University |
Master's
|
18 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
|
17 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Central Penn College (CPC) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Summerdale, Pennsylvania | Private | centralpenn.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Baltimore (UBalt) |
Master's
|
12 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ubalt.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Master's
|
12 | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| ATA College |
Other Award
|
12 | El Cajon, California | Private | atacollege.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Master's
|
11 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Master's
|
7 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| George Mason University |
Master's
|
7 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Master's
|
6 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Master's
|
6 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | derecho.inter.edu |
| College of Court Reporting Inc (CCR) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | ccr.edu |
| William Woods University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Fulton, Missouri | Private | williamwoods.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Oklahoma City University (OCU) |
Master's
|
4 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Private | okcu.edu |
| Humphreys University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Stockton, California | Private | humphreys.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Master's
|
3 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
3 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of New Hampshire |
Master's
|
3 | Concord, New Hampshire | Public | law.unh.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Brenau University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Gainesville, Georgia | Private | brenau.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Roger Williams University School of Law (RWU Law) |
Master's
|
2 | Bristol, Rhode Island | Private | law.rwu.edu |
| University of California College of the Law (UC Law SF) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | San Francisco, California | Public | uclawsf.edu |
| Southwestern Law School |
Master's
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Private | swlaw.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
|
1 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
1 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
1 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Public | northampton.edu |
| National American University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Rapid City, South Dakota | Private | national.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Legal Professions and Studies programs
Which universities have the largest Legal Professions and Studies programs?
Currently 79 accredited institutions offer Legal Professions and Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Purdue University Global (248 graduates), University of Arizona (233 graduates), and University of Southern California (USC) (203 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 Professions and Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 2,148 in 2010 to a peak of 2,565 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,487 in 2023-24. This represents a 16% 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.
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