by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 33 U.S. colleges awarded 602 degrees and certificates in Dispute Resolution. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 93% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Dispute Resolution Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $62,001 one year after completing, rising to $80,857 after four years.
Studying Dispute Resolution involves the study of Dispute Resolution.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, dispute resolution is a popular field of study, with 602 degrees awarded annually. 33 colleges award dispute resolution degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 149.
By level, the 602 awards include 4 certificates, 3 bachelor’s degrees, 560 master’s degrees and 23 doctorates.
Women earned 68% of dispute resolution degrees and certificates in the latest year (410 of 602). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (270) and Black or African American (83), and international students earned 84.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Dispute Resolution Schools ranking, including 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks dispute resolution schools within 2 states. In all, 33 colleges offer dispute resolution programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Dispute Resolution Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common dispute resolution credential is the master’s degree: 560 of the 602 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to dispute resolution 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 dispute resolution degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 560 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 23 |
First professional degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to dispute resolution, at 35.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 35.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 31.2% |
| Master’s degree | 14.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Dispute Resolution, with an average median salary of $98,921; the strongest outlook belongs to Business Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Professor, College Professor, Assistant Professor and Instructor.
The occupation related to dispute resolution 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% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 215,473 | 2.5% |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | 214,979 | 0.6% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
Dispute Resolution graduates earn a median $62,001 one year after completing their program, $80,857 after four years and $80,054 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,001 |
| 4 years | $80,857 |
| 5 years | $80,054 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to dispute resolution is Labor Relations Specialists, with a median salary of $129,587.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Labor Relations Specialists | $129,587 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $93,794 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
Dispute Resolution includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Dispute Resolution (602). It has 48 similar majors in the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies field, which together award 149,820 degrees a year; the largest are Biological and Physical Sciences (29,811), Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (29,665) and Data Analytics (17,572). Browse all Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dispute Resolution | 602 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 29,811 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 29,665 |
| Data Analytics | 17,572 |
| Data Science | 11,772 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 11,175 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 6,906 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,644 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,569 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,567 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,911 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
