by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 462 U.S. colleges awarded 9,687 degrees and certificates in Legal Assistant/Paralegal. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 231 schools in its 2027 Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,861 one year after completing, rising to $48,616 after four years.
A degree in Legal Assistant/Paralegal explores Legal Assistant/paralegal. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Research, Drafting, Investigatory, Record-Keeping And Related Administrative Functions Under The Supervision Of An Attorney Or Court. Includes Instruction In Legal Research, Drafting Legal Documents, Appraising, Pleading, Courthouse Procedures, And Legal Specializations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, legal assistant/paralegal is a popular field of study, with 9,687 degrees awarded annually. 462 colleges award legal assistant/paralegal degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 243.
By level, the 9,687 awards include 2,049 certificates, 4,446 associate degrees, 778 bachelor’s degrees and 2,314 master’s degrees.
Women earned 84% of legal assistant/paralegal degrees and certificates in the latest year (8,143 of 9,687). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,466) and Hispanic or Latino (2,513), and international students earned 101.
College Factual ranks 231 schools in its 2027 Best Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools ranking, including 155 for associate degrees, 27 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks legal assistant/paralegal schools within 30 states. In all, 462 colleges offer legal assistant/paralegal programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common legal assistant/paralegal credential is the associate degree: 4,446 of the 9,687 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to legal assistant/paralegal call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Law and Government and Administrative, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a legal assistant/paralegal degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,049 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,446 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 778 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,314 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to legal assistant/paralegal, at 53.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 53.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Legal Assistant/Paralegal, with an average median salary of $94,119; the strongest outlook belongs to Paralegals and Legal Assistants, at 4.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Escrow Officer, Foreclosure Specialist, Title Inspector and Title Abstractor.
The occupation related to legal assistant/paralegal with the most projected jobs is Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers, at 286,021.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | 286,021 | -4.0% |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | 197,456 | -0.5% |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 60,495 | 4.4% |
Legal Assistant/Paralegal graduates earn a median $37,861 one year after completing their program, $48,616 after four years and $44,365 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,861 |
| 4 years | $48,616 |
| 5 years | $44,365 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to legal assistant/paralegal, with a median salary of $134,350.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $134,350 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $80,735 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $67,272 |
Legal Assistant/Paralegal has 3 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 1,031 degrees a year; the largest are Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter (431), Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary (367) and Legal Support Services, Other (233). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter | 431 |
| Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary | 367 |
| Legal Support Services, Other | 233 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
