Est. Earnings (1yr)
$40,429
Est. from national median (41 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$19,500
Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

Georgia's legal support programs show wide variation in outcomes, making this certificate's estimated numbers worth examining carefully. Based on comparable programs nationally, Chattahoochee Tech appears positioned around $40,400 in first-year earnings—notably higher than Georgia's state median of $34,447 for this field. The estimated debt load of $19,500 creates a manageable 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning roughly half a year's salary to repay what's borrowed.

However, there's an important reality check here: Georgia programs in this field typically carry higher debt ($32,620 statewide) while producing lower earnings than the national figures suggest for this school. That gap raises questions about whether peer program estimates accurately reflect what Chattahoochee Tech students actually experience. The legal support field can be geographically sensitive—Atlanta's legal market may indeed support stronger outcomes than elsewhere in Georgia, or the estimates may be optimistic.

For parents weighing this investment, the uncertainty cuts both ways. If the $40,400 estimate holds true, this certificate offers reasonable value with debt repayable within a few years. But if outcomes skew closer to Georgia's lower state average, you're looking at a tighter financial picture. Before committing, dig into Chattahoochee Tech's actual job placement rates and talk to recent graduates about their starting salaries—those concrete datapoints matter more than state or national extrapolations when the school's own outcomes remain unreported.

Where Chattahoochee Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Georgia

Legal Support Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Georgia (11 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Chattahoochee Technical CollegeMarietta$3,252$40,429*—$19,500*—
Clayton State UniversityMorrow$5,068$34,447*$44,964$32,620*0.95
National Median—$40,429*—$20,834*0.52
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with legal support services graduates

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.

$67,310/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

$61,010/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Interpreters and Translators

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

$59,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.

$47,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

Search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. May compile lists of mortgages, contracts, and other instruments pertaining to titles by searching public and private records for law firms, real estate agencies, or title insurance companies.

Legal Support Workers, All Other

All legal support workers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Chattahoochee Technical College, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 41 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.