by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 74 U.S. colleges awarded 2,545 degrees and certificates in Legal Professions (Other). Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 73% of graduates. College Factual ranks 41 schools in its 2027 Best Legal Professions (Other) Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $76,808 one year after completing, rising to $108,626 after four years.
In the legal profession, there are many directions you can take. Some of the more traditional options are to become a lawyer, paralegal or a court reporter, but are plenty of other lesser known subjects to pursue. Some students decide to major in Political Science and Government, Criminal Justice or Public Policy Analysis.
In any of these majors you will need to take classes on law, psychology, sociology, public administration, English, history, and statistics.
Studying Legal Professions (Other) covers Legal Professions And Studies, Other.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., legal professions (other) is a popular field of study, with 2,545 degrees awarded annually. 74 colleges award legal professions (other) degrees, an average of 34 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 254.
By level, the 2,545 awards include 5 certificates, 125 associate degrees, 510 bachelor’s degrees, 1,851 master’s degrees and 54 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of legal professions (other) degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,648 of 2,545). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,002) and Hispanic or Latino (395), and international students earned 369.
College Factual ranks 41 schools in its 2027 Best Legal Professions (Other) Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees, 12 for bachelor’s degrees, 22 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks legal professions (other) schools within 10 states. In all, 74 colleges offer legal professions (other) programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Legal Professions (Other) Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common legal professions (other) credential is the master’s degree: 1,851 of the 2,545 awarded in the latest year.
You will be expected to become acquainted with politics, government, and public policy, and be prepared to argue your point and stick up for what you believe in. Your classmates and professors will often have opposing viewpoints. Students with a bold personality will usually succeed in this field. You will sharpen your debating skills and your ability to reason. Communication skills will help you greatly; this includes critical reading, writing and speaking. These majors require you to use interdisciplinary skills to dissect and understand what you are learning.
Those who are naturally curious will do well as students spend many hours researching the legal and justice system as well as public policy. Be prepared to question data and dig deep to find answers. Coursework and projects will help you develop your problem solving skills. You will learn how to handle urgent issues and propose solutions. Good interpersonal skills will help you as you debate others and try to persuade people.
Many schools will require you to participate in an internship in your field to get hands-on experience in the workforce.
How long a legal professions (other) degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 125 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 510 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,851 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 54 |
Any of these majors will prepare you to continue on in your education and go to law school. However, you could also become a police officer or detective with your background. You would also be well prepared to teach history, political science or law at the secondary level. You could also go into legal research, work in public policy or work as an analyst. The salaries of these very different careers will range drastically. Salaries will also differ depending on if you are working for the public or for a private law firm.
Legal Professions (Other) graduates earn a median $76,808 one year after completing their program, $108,626 after four years and $104,640 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $76,808 |
| 4 years | $108,626 |
| 5 years | $104,640 |
Source: College Scorecard.
Legal Professions (Other) includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Legal Professions and Studies, Other (2,545). It has 4 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 65,302 degrees a year; the largest are Law (36,931), Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (12,178) and Legal Support Services (10,718). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 2,545 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Law | 36,931 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 12,178 |
| Legal Support Services | 10,718 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 5,475 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
