by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 40 U.S. colleges awarded 959 degrees and certificates in American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 94% of graduates. College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $78,306 one year after completing, rising to $107,082 after four years.
Studying American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence covers American/u.s. Law/legal Studies/jurisprudence. An Advanced, Professional Program Of The U.s. Legal System, Constitution Law, And Jurisprudence. Includes Instruction In Legal History, Legal Sociology, Philosophy Of Law, Constitutional Law, Legal Procedure, And Related Topics. Examples: [American/u.s. Law/legal Studies/jurisprudence (Ll.m., M.c.j.)], [American/u.s. Law/legal Studies/jurisprudence (J.s.d./s.j.d.)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence draws strong interest, with 959 degrees awarded annually. 40 colleges award american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence degrees, an average of 24 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 201.
By level, the 959 awards include 1 associate degrees, 43 bachelor’s degrees, 897 master’s degrees and 18 doctorates.
Women earned 58% of american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence degrees and certificates in the latest year (561 of 959). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (226) and Black or African American (81), and international students earned 379.
College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence Schools ranking, including 21 for master’s degrees. It also ranks american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence schools within 4 states. In all, 40 colleges offer american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence credential is the master’s degree: 897 of the 959 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Law and Government, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. 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 an american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 43 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 897 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
First professional degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence, at 43.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 43.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence, with an average median salary of $82,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Lawyers, at 2.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include U.S. Law Instructor (United States Law Instructor), Law Professor, Paralegal Instructor and Faculty Member.
The occupation related to american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence 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% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence graduates earn a median $78,306 one year after completing their program, $107,082 after four years and $107,285 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $107,082 |
| 5 years | $107,285 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to american/u.s. law/legal studies/jurisprudence, with a median salary of $91,726.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence has 19 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 11,219 degrees a year; the largest are Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General (5,066), Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other (1,551) and Programs for Foreign Lawyers (1,380). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General | 5,066 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other | 1,551 |
| Programs for Foreign Lawyers | 1,380 |
| Tax Law/Taxation | 749 |
| Health Law | 450 |
| International Law and Legal Studies | 388 |
| Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law | 353 |
| International Business, Trade, and Tax Law | 316 |
| Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law | 255 |
| Human Resources Law | 235 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
