by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 7 U.S. colleges awarded 56 degrees and certificates in Tribal/Indigenous Law. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 89% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Tribal/Indigenous Law 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 Tribal/Indigenous Law involves the study of An Advanced, Professional Study Of The Law, Policies, And Regulations Affecting Federal Indian Law, Tribal Law And Policy, And Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights. Examples: [Tribal Policy, Law, And Government], [Indigenous Law], [Indigenous And Federal Aboriginal Law].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, tribal/indigenous law is a popular field of study, with 56 degrees awarded annually. 7 colleges award tribal/indigenous law degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 26.
By level, the 56 awards include 6 associate degrees and 50 master’s degrees.
Women earned 68% of tribal/indigenous law degrees and certificates in the latest year (38 of 56). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are American Indian or Alaska Native (32) and White (13), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Tribal/Indigenous Law Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees. In all, 7 colleges offer tribal/indigenous law programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Tribal/Indigenous Law Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common tribal/indigenous law credential is the master’s degree: 50 of the 56 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to tribal/indigenous law 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 a tribal/indigenous law degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 50 |
First professional degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to tribal/indigenous 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 Tribal/Indigenous 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 Law Adjunct Professor, Business Law Instructor, U.S. Law Instructor (United States Law Instructor) and Faculty Member.
The occupation related to tribal/indigenous 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% |
Tribal/Indigenous 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 tribal/indigenous law, with a median salary of $91,726.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
Tribal/Indigenous Law has 19 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 12,122 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.
