Legal Professions and Studies at Ball State University

Ball State's legal professions program shows promising earnings growth, but these numbers come with a significant asterisk: fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, making the data less reliable than programs with larger samples. That caveat aside, graduates start at $39,220—above the national median for these programs—and see their earnings jump 38% to nearly $54,000 by year four. At 66th percentile nationally and 60th within Indiana, this program performs solidly in the middle-to-upper tier.

The debt picture is manageable. At $27,000, graduates owe exactly the national median for legal professions programs, creating a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio that leaves room in the budget for loan payments. The 38% earnings growth suggests career momentum, though it's worth noting that even the four-year mark of $54,000 keeps graduates in moderate-income territory rather than launching them toward six-figure potential.

For families weighing this investment, the central question is whether a legal studies bachelor's degree serves as a terminal credential or a stepping stone. Many graduates in these programs eventually pursue law school or graduate certificates. If your student plans to stop at the bachelor's level, $54,000 represents a realistic ceiling in the near term. The moderate debt and above-average starting position make this a reasonable foundation—just remember that the small sample size means the next cohort's outcomes could differ meaningfully from what's shown here.