by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 57 U.S. colleges awarded 836 degrees and certificates in Pre-Law. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Pre-Law 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.
A major in Pre-Law involves the study of Pre-Law Studies. A Program That Prepares Individuals For The Professional Study Of Law At The Post-Baccalaureate Level.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., pre-law draws strong interest, with 836 degrees awarded annually. 57 colleges award pre-law degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 185.
By level, the 836 awards include 27 certificates, 54 associate degrees, 520 bachelor’s degrees and 235 master’s degrees.
Women earned 64% of pre-law degrees and certificates in the latest year (539 of 836). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (456) and Hispanic or Latino (132), and international students earned 17.
College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Pre-Law Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks pre-law schools within 3 states. In all, 57 colleges offer pre-law programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Pre-Law Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
How long a pre-law degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 27 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 54 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 520 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 235 |
Pre-Law has 2 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 4,639 degrees a year; the largest are Non-Professional Legal Studies (4,638) and Non-Professional Legal Studies, Other (1). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 4,638 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies, Other | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
