by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 749 degrees and certificates in Tax Law/Taxation. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Tax Law/Taxation 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 Tax Law/Taxation explores Tax Law/taxation. An Advanced, Professional Study Of Tax Law And Taxation Procedures In U.s. Or Canadian Jurisdictions Affecting Individuals And Corporations. Examples: [Tax Law/taxation (Ll.m.)], [Tax Law/taxation (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, tax law/taxation is a popular field of study, with 749 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award tax law/taxation degrees, an average of 31 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 129.
All 749 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 44% of tax law/taxation degrees and certificates in the latest year (331 of 749). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (337) and Hispanic or Latino (76), and international students earned 105.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Tax Law/Taxation Schools ranking, including 14 for master’s degrees. It also ranks tax law/taxation schools within 4 states. In all, 24 colleges offer tax law/taxation programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Tax Law/Taxation Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
O*NET rates Speaking the most important skill for jobs related to tax law/taxation, 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 tax law/taxation degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 749 |
First professional degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to tax law/taxation, 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 Tax Law/Taxation, with an average median salary of $82,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Lawyers, at 2.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Teacher, Clinical Law Professor, College Professor and Environmental Law Professor.
The occupation related to tax law/taxation 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% |
Tax Law/Taxation 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 tax law/taxation, with a median salary of $91,726.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
Tax Law/Taxation has 19 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 11,429 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.
