by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 6 U.S. colleges awarded 84 degrees and certificates in Comparative Law. Graduates earn a median $78,306 one year after completing, rising to $107,082 after four years.
A degree in Comparative Law explores Comparative Law. An Advanced, Professional Study Of Legal Systems And Philosophies In Comparative Perspective. Examples: [Comparative Law (Ll.m., M.c.l.)], [Comparative Law (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.
In the U.S., comparative law is a popular field of study, with 84 degrees awarded annually. 6 colleges award comparative law degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 54.
All 84 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 58% of comparative law degrees and certificates in the latest year (49 of 84). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (18) and Hispanic or Latino (10), and international students earned 7.
O*NET rates Speaking the most important skill for jobs related to comparative law, at 4.6 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 comparative law degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 84 |
First professional degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to comparative law, 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 Comparative Law, with an average median salary of $82,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Lawyers, at 2.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Labor Law Professor, College Faculty Member, Business Law Instructor and Law Professor.
The occupation related to comparative 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% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
Comparative Law 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 comparative law, with a median salary of $91,726.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
Comparative Law has 19 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 12,094 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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.