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 schools below stand out for the salaries their legal research graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find where legal research graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send legal research graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the top school for legal research graduate earnings in New York. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $130,948.
Strong graduate earnings at Fordham University earned it the #2 place for legal research. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,764.
Students chasing top earnings in legal research will find them at Hofstra University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,178.
St Johns University New York produces some of the highest-paid graduates in legal research, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,412.
Strong graduate earnings at Yeshiva University earned it the #5 place for legal research. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the legal research program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,411.
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 · 5 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.