by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 42 U.S. colleges awarded 1,551 degrees and certificates in Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 99% of graduates. College Factual ranks 31 schools in its 2027 Best Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies 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.
A degree in Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies involves the study of Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies, Other. Any Program In Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies Not Listed Above. Examples: [Animal Law], [Biotechnology And Genomics Law], [Cannabis Law], [Communications Law], [Cybersecurity And Information Privacy Law], [Economic Law], [Education Law].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., other legal research & advanced professional studies is a popular field of study, with 1,551 degrees awarded annually. 42 colleges award other legal research & advanced professional studies degrees, an average of 37 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 215.
By level, the 1,551 awards include 2 associate degrees, 1,536 master’s degrees and 13 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of other legal research & advanced professional studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (951 of 1,551). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (437) and Hispanic or Latino (157), and international students earned 592.
College Factual ranks 31 schools in its 2027 Best Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies Schools ranking, including 26 for master’s degrees. It also ranks other legal research & advanced professional studies schools within 5 states. In all, 42 colleges offer other legal research & advanced professional studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common other legal research & advanced professional studies credential is the master’s degree: 1,536 of the 1,551 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to other legal research & advanced professional studies 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 other legal research & advanced professional studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,536 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
First professional degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to other legal research & advanced professional studies, 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 Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies, with an average median salary of $82,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Lawyers, at 2.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Legal Writing Professor, Constitutional Law Professor and College Professor.
The occupation related to other legal research & advanced professional studies 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% |
Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies 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 other legal research & advanced professional studies, with a median salary of $91,726.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
Other Legal Research & Advanced Professional Studies has 19 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 10,627 degrees a year; the largest are Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General (5,066), Programs for Foreign Lawyers (1,380) and American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence (959). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General | 5,066 |
| Programs for Foreign Lawyers | 1,380 |
| American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence | 959 |
| 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.
