by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 210 U.S. colleges awarded 36,931 degrees and certificates in Law. College Factual ranks 201 schools in its 2027 Best Law Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $86,004 one year after completing, rising to $126,672 after four years.
Studying Law covers Law.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, law is a widely-pursued major, with 36,931 degrees awarded annually. 210 colleges award law degrees, an average of 176 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 705.
All 36,931 of the awards are doctorates, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 57% of law degrees and certificates in the latest year (20,910 of 36,931). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (21,794) and Hispanic or Latino (5,128), and international students earned 1,205.
College Factual ranks 201 schools in its 2027 Best Law Schools ranking, including 191 for doctorates. It also ranks law schools within 18 states. In all, 210 colleges offer law programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Law Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
O*NET rates Speaking the most important skill for jobs related to law, at 4.4 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Law and Government, English Language and Education and Training. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a law degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 36,931 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to law, at 40.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 40.2% |
| First professional degree | 35.6% |
| Master’s degree | 9.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Law, with an average median salary of $102,215; the strongest outlook belongs to Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers, at 10.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include College Faculty Member, Business Law Professor, Law Professor and Environmental Law Professor.
The occupation related to law with the most projected jobs is Law Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,017,747.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | 236,128 | 0.0% |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | 214,979 | 0.6% |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | 211,572 | 10.2% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
| Judicial Law Clerks | 131,127 | 4.1% |
Law graduates earn a median $86,004 one year after completing their program, $126,672 after four years and $119,928 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $86,004 |
| 4 years | $126,672 |
| 5 years | $119,928 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to law, with a median salary of $137,571.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $137,571 |
| Judicial Law Clerks | $132,226 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $93,794 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $84,793 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
Law includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Law (36,931). It has 4 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 30,916 degrees a year; the largest are Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (12,178), Legal Support Services (10,718) and Non-Professional Legal Studies (5,475). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Law | 36,931 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 12,178 |
| Legal Support Services | 10,718 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 5,475 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 2,545 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
