by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Legal Studies](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/general-legal-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a general legal studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying general legal studies schools.
What’s on this page:
The right general legal studies school can pay off in your paycheck for years to come. That is why we developed our Highest Paid General Legal Studies Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose general legal studies degrees pay off the most.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid General Legal Studies Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools send general legal studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in general legal studies, no school beat University Of New Haven this year. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from University Of New Haven typically earn about $77,792 annually.
University Of Miami produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general legal studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general legal studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $103,274.
Strong graduate earnings at Central Michigan University earned it the #3 place for general legal studies. Central Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from Central Michigan University typically earn about $69,066 annually.
A rank of #4 makes American University one of the highest-paying schools for general legal studies. American University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students who complete the general legal studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,273.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Maryland University College earned it the #5 place for general legal studies. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. General Legal Studies graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of about $82,406 a year early in their careers.
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for general legal studies. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a public institution. Students who complete the general legal studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,420.
Nova Southeastern University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general legal studies schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Legal Studies graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of about $59,450 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Berkeley landed the #8 spot for general legal studies salaries this year. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. General Legal Studies graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $78,127 a year early in their careers.
Webster University landed the #9 spot for general legal studies salaries this year. Webster University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. General Legal Studies graduates of Webster University earn a median of about $55,982 a year early in their careers.
University Of La Verne landed the #10 spot for general legal studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. General Legal Studies graduates of University Of La Verne earn a median of about $61,433 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for general legal studies. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career general legal studies graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $74,073 per year.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned the #12 position for general legal studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus typically earn about $74,073 annually.
American Public University System ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general legal studies schools. American Public University System is a private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from American Public University System typically earn about $60,106 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #14 spot for general legal studies salaries this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $65,938 annually.
University Of The District Of Columbia earned the #15 position for general legal studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a public institution. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia typically earn about $61,910 annually.
Hamline University landed the #16 spot for general legal studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from Hamline University typically earn about $65,092 annually.
Arizona State University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for general legal studies. Arizona State University is a public school located in the city of Tempe. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from Arizona State University typically earn about $61,817 annually.
Arizona State University Skysong landed the #18 spot for general legal studies salaries this year. Arizona State University Skysong is a public school located in the city of Scottsdale. Students who complete the general legal studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,817.
Suffolk University landed the #19 spot for general legal studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Legal Studies graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of about $56,271 a year early in their careers.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general legal studies schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Students who complete the general legal studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,417.
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general legal studies schools. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Students who complete the general legal studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,817.
University Of Denver earned the #22 position for general legal studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. General Legal Studies graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of about $60,082 a year early in their careers.
Lipscomb University came in at #23 for general legal studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general legal studies degree recipients from Lipscomb University typically earn about $66,804 annually.
Mercy College earned the #24 position for general legal studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general legal studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,163.
Michigan State University earned the #25 position for general legal studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Early-career general legal studies graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $63,933 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning general legal studies graduates:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general legal studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 39 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
