College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges for Legal Careers
Do you want the truth? Can you handle the truth? If so, a career in the law may be the right choice for you. If you want to be a lawyer, you can expect to use abstract legal theories and knowledge to argue specific cases, or to advance the interests of your clients. But there are other career opportunities that fall under “Legal Occupations”, including paralegals, judges and more.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: Seattle University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$669,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$267,000 | Graduation Rate:74% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$29,400 |
| Rank:2 | School Name: - Main Campus_50px.png) University of Washington-Seattle Campus (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$466,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$120,000 | Graduation Rate:84% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$24,700 |
| Rank:3 | School Name: | 20 Year Net ROI:$448,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$117,000 | Graduation Rate:85% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$24,500 |
| Rank:4 | School Name:_50px.jpg) San Jose State University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$424,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$119,000 | Graduation Rate:68% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$22,400 |
| Rank:5 | School Name: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$409,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$128,000 | Graduation Rate:93% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$33,900 |
| Rank:6 | School Name: University of California-Berkeley (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$406,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$165,000 | Graduation Rate:94% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$29,000 |
| Rank:7 | School Name:_50px.png) University of California-San Diego (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$399,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$142,000 | Graduation Rate:88% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$25,700 |
| Rank:8 | School Name:_50px.png) California State University-East Bay (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$393,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$109,000 | Graduation Rate:46% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$22,700 |
| Rank:9 | School Name: - San Luis Obispo_50px.png) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$383,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$183,000 | Graduation Rate:85% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$24,500 |
| Rank:10 | School Name:_50px.jpg) Michigan State University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$379,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$119,000 | Graduation Rate:82% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$32,600 |
In the United States, law is primarily taught at specialized law schools, all of which must be approved by the American Bar Association. For most law schools, a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for admission. Different schools often specialize in different types of law, of which there are almost a countless number.
People working in legal occupations often make a good salary, but if you’re considering a career in the law, use Payscale’s College ROI report to make sure you don’t start your career at a disadvantage.
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