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 | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Global |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (P)
|
248 | N/A | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
233 |
SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30 |
Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
|
203 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Regent University |
Master's
|
162 |
SAT: 1050-1250 ACT: 21-26 |
Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) |
Master's
|
97 | N/A | South Royalton, Vermont | Private | vermontlaw.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
94 |
SAT: 1330-1490 ACT: 30-33 |
Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
93 |
SAT: 1490-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs |
Master's
Doctorate (O)
|
84 | N/A | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Roger Williams University (RWU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
82 |
SAT: 1130-1300 ACT: 24-30 |
Bristol, Rhode Island | Private | rwu.edu |
| St. Thomas University (STU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
77 | N/A | Miami Gardens, Florida | Private | stu.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
67 |
SAT: 1050-1290 ACT: 21-27 |
Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
|
65 |
SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 31-33 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
|
60 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Master's
|
58 | N/A | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | SAT: 940-1225 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
51 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Yeshiva University (YU) |
Master's
|
48 |
SAT: 1320-1500 ACT: 28-33 |
New York, New York | Private | yu.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
44 |
SAT: 1160-1340 ACT: 27-31 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
38 |
SAT: 940-1170 ACT: 20-26 |
California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Other Award
|
37 |
SAT: 1060-1240 ACT: 21-26 |
Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
28 | N/A | New York, New York | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | N/A | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
|
26 |
SAT: 1180-1398 ACT: 22-29 |
Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
25 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 26-31 |
East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of the District of Columbia (UDC) |
Associate's
|
22 | N/A | Washington, District of Columbia | Public | udc.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
22 | N/A | Woodland Park, New Jersey | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
22 |
SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) |
Other Award
|
21 |
SAT: 1020-1260 ACT: 22-28 |
Detroit, Michigan | Private | udmercy.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
21 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-31 |
South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
20 |
SAT: 1050-1220 ACT: 21-28 |
Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Golden Gate University (GGU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | N/A | San Francisco, California | Private | ggu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Master's
|
20 | N/A | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
19 |
SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
19 |
SAT: 1370-1510 ACT: 30-33 |
Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| Drake University |
Master's
|
18 |
SAT: 1190-1390 ACT: 24-30 |
Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
|
17 |
SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 32-35 |
Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Central Penn College (CPC) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | N/A | Summerdale, Pennsylvania | Private | centralpenn.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 |
SAT: 1040-1230 ACT: 21-28 |
Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 |
SAT: 990-1220 ACT: 20-27 |
Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 |
SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33 |
Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Baltimore (UBalt) |
Master's
|
12 | SAT: 1010-1110 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ubalt.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Master's
|
12 |
SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 33-34 |
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 |
SAT: 1260-1430 ACT: 28-32 |
Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| ATA College |
Other Award
|
12 | N/A | El Cajon, California | Private | atacollege.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Master's
|
11 |
SAT: 1365-1510 ACT: 32-34 |
Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 |
SAT: 1090-1330 ACT: 22-28 |
Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Bachelor's
|
10 |
SAT: 1170-1330 ACT: 25-30 |
Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 |
SAT: 1080-1250 ACT: 25-30 |
Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 |
SAT: 860-1070 ACT: 22-26 |
Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1240-1410 ACT: 29-32 |
Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1210-1470 ACT: 25-32 |
Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| George Mason University |
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1140-1340 ACT: 25-30 |
Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
6 | N/A | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | ACT: 18-26 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Master's
|
6 |
SAT: 1190-1340 ACT: 25-31 |
Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Master's
|
6 | N/A | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | derecho.inter.edu |
| College of Court Reporting Inc (CCR) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | N/A | Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | ccr.edu |
| William Woods University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | N/A | Fulton, Missouri | Private | williamwoods.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1110-1320 ACT: 24-29 |
Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Oklahoma City University (OCU) |
Master's
|
4 | ACT: 20-26 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Private | okcu.edu |
| Humphreys University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | N/A | Stockton, California | Private | humphreys.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Master's
|
3 | N/A | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
3 |
SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of New Hampshire |
Master's
|
3 | N/A | Concord, New Hampshire | Public | law.unh.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1230-1430 ACT: 27-33 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Brenau University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 990-1170 ACT: 17-23 |
Gainesville, Georgia | Private | brenau.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 980-1160 ACT: 18-23 |
Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Roger Williams University School of Law (RWU Law) |
Master's
|
2 | N/A | Bristol, Rhode Island | Private | law.rwu.edu |
| University of California College of the Law (UC Law SF) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | N/A | San Francisco, California | Public | uclawsf.edu |
| Southwestern Law School |
Master's
|
1 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Private | swlaw.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 1300-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Other Award
|
1 |
SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Doctorate (R)
|
1 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Doctorate (P)
|
1 |
SAT: 1040-1260 ACT: 21-28 |
Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Doctorate (R)
|
1 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-31 |
Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Public | northampton.edu |
| National American University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | N/A | 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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