by our College Data Analytics Team
[Legal Research](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-research/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a legal research degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 45 schools to find where legal research graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose legal research graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 for legal research graduate salaries in the United States. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $169,366.
Columbia University In The City Of New York produces some of the highest-paid graduates in legal research, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $130,948 annually.
University Of San Francisco produces some of the highest-paid graduates in legal research, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from University Of San Francisco typically earn about $133,773 annually.
Boston University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from Boston University make a median of around $139,643 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in legal research will find them at University Of Florida, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from University Of Florida typically earn about $145,138 annually.
University Of San Diego came in at #6 for legal research graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from University Of San Diego make a median of around $130,361 per year.
Seton Hall University earned the #7 position for legal research graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $134,491.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #8 spot for legal research salaries this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $114,376.
Temple University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for legal research. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $121,289.
University Of Denver came in at #10 for legal research graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. Legal Research graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of about $110,215 a year early in their careers.
Golden Gate University San Francisco ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, Golden Gate University San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from Golden Gate University San Francisco make a median of around $106,626 per year.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #12 spot for legal research salaries this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Legal Research graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of about $102,721 a year early in their careers.
Loyola University Chicago placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for legal research. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago typically earn about $106,476 annually.
George Washington University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for legal research. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Legal Research graduates of George Washington University earn a median of about $113,751 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Alabama earned the #15 position for legal research graduate earnings this year. The University Of Alabama is a public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Early-career legal research graduates from The University Of Alabama make a median of around $119,652 per year.
University Of Houston placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for legal research. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from University Of Houston typically earn about $97,668 annually.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #17 for legal research graduate earnings this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $91,677 annually.
Southern Methodist University came in at #18 for legal research graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career legal research graduates from Southern Methodist University make a median of around $104,281 per year.
University Of Maryland Baltimore earned the #19 position for legal research graduate earnings this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public school located in the city of Baltimore. Legal Research graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore earn a median of about $86,070 a year early in their careers.
Fordham University landed the #20 spot for legal research salaries this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from Fordham University typically earn about $82,764 annually.
University Of Dayton came in at #21 for legal research graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from University Of Dayton typically earn about $82,071 annually.
Florida State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,899.
University Of Miami ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying legal research schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,260.
American University landed the #24 spot for legal research salaries this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, legal research degree recipients from American University typically earn about $98,927 annually.
Nova Southeastern University earned the #25 position for legal research graduate earnings this year. Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Early-career legal research graduates from Nova Southeastern University make a median of around $78,293 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid legal research ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Legal Research rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries legal research graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 45 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.