by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 237 U.S. colleges awarded 5,475 degrees and certificates in Non-Professional General Legal Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. College Factual ranks 96 schools in its 2027 Best Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $41,299 one year after completing, rising to $64,762 after four years.
Do you love the lively exchange of a good debate? Can you successfully navigate the complex laws that govern our society? If you have it in your heart to become a lawyer, you may want to choose a major in General Legal Studies.
This major prepares you to practice law independently, take the state and national bar examinations, and complete advanced research. The main reason for choosing this major or certificate program is to help you get into law school. You will refine your thinking, reading, writing, and communication skills which will help your ability to reason. This program is most offered as a certificate program that will help prepare you for law school. This can be successfully paired with a major in English, Political Science or History.
You will take courses in theory and practice of the legal system. You will learn about statutory and administrative components of both civil and criminal law. Law schools look for candidates with a broad education. In addition to classes on logic, advanced writing, constitutional law, political science and social science, you will also learn history, philosophy, math, and science.
A degree in Non-Professional General Legal Studies covers Non-Professional Legal Studies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, non-professional general legal studies is a popular field of study, with 5,475 degrees awarded annually. 237 colleges award non-professional general legal studies degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 243.
By level, the 5,475 awards include 80 certificates, 589 associate degrees, 3,648 bachelor’s degrees, 1,154 master’s degrees and 4 doctorates.
Women earned 69% of non-professional general legal studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,764 of 5,475). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,583) and Hispanic or Latino (1,325), and international students earned 126.
College Factual ranks 96 schools in its 2027 Best Non-Professional General Legal Studies Schools ranking, including 19 for associate degrees, 57 for bachelor’s degrees and 11 for master’s degrees. It also ranks non-professional general legal studies schools within 21 states. In all, 237 colleges offer non-professional general legal studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Non-Professional General Legal Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common non-professional general legal studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 3,648 of the 5,475 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to non-professional general legal studies call most for Writing, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Law and Government, English Language and Administrative, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Critical thinking and the ability to reason are the most important skills to have as a pre-law student. It is absolutely necessary to be a strong reader and writer. Excellent communication skills will help you prepare convincing arguments to persuade a judge and jury. Students who have confident and outgoing personalities tend to do well in this field.
You should be a careful thinker who can creatively see ways to get out of tricky situations. This will help show your strong analytical and problem solving skills. It is also important to work hard and be prepared for an intense schedule. You will be juggling difficult classes while studying rigorously in order to keep your GPA(grade point average) high. Most programs will suggest you intern in a law office or legal rights organization. It is also important to join and be involved in student government.
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How long a non-professional general legal studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 80 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 589 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,648 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,154 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to non-professional general legal studies, at 36.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 20.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 18.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Non-Professional General Legal Studies, with an average median salary of $107,542; the strongest outlook belongs to Paralegals and Legal Assistants, at 4.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Legislative Assistant, Law Researcher, Patent Searcher and Law Examiner.
This major or certificate program prepares you to get into law school. Upon graduating law school and passing the bar examination you will be able to become a professional lawyer, a judge, a prosecutor, or acquire some other law-related position.
The occupation related to non-professional general legal studies with the most projected jobs is Legal Support Workers, All Other, at 197,456.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | 197,456 | -0.5% |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 60,495 | 4.4% |
Non-Professional General Legal Studies graduates earn a median $41,299 one year after completing their program, $64,762 after four years and $63,713 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $41,299 |
| 4 years | $64,762 |
| 5 years | $63,713 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to non-professional general legal studies, with a median salary of $134,350.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $134,350 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $80,735 |
Non-Professional General Legal Studies includes 3 concentrations that together award 5,475 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Non-Professional Legal Studies (4,638), Pre-Law Studies (836) and Non-Professional Legal Studies, Other (1). It has 4 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 62,372 degrees a year; the largest are Law (36,931), Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (12,178) and Legal Support Services (10,718). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 4,638 |
| Pre-Law Studies | 836 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies, Other | 1 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Law | 36,931 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 12,178 |
| Legal Support Services | 10,718 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 2,545 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
