Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at Auburn University

Auburn's estimated debt load of $23,000 for this legal studies degree sits below the national median, which provides some cushion against the program's modest earning potential. Based on comparable programs nationwide, graduates typically earn around $39,000 in their first year—adequate for managing this debt level, but hardly impressive for a four-year degree from a selective institution where the average SAT hovers above 1300.

The core challenge here is opportunity cost. Legal studies programs that don't lead directly to law school or paralegal certification often leave graduates competing for positions that may not require a bachelor's degree at all. With peer programs nationally showing earnings that barely crack $40,000, you're looking at a credential that may not justify four years of college when many legal support roles—which this degree typically targets—can be entered through associate degrees or certificates. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 is manageable, but only if your child has clear career goals that specifically require this bachelor's credential.

If your child isn't planning for law school, push them to articulate exactly what job they're targeting and whether employers in that field actually prefer a bachelor's in legal studies over other paths. Without that clarity, this program risks becoming an expensive detour rather than a strategic investment.