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

Is $27,000 in debt reasonable for a legal studies bachelor's degree that typically leads to first-year earnings around $39,000? Peer programs nationally suggest this debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 is manageable—better than many bachelor's degrees—though you're looking at roughly $300 monthly loan payments that will take a meaningful bite from that $39,000 starting salary. The challenge isn't the debt burden itself but rather what this degree actually qualifies you to do, since "non-professional" legal studies programs don't lead to attorney positions and typically funnel graduates into paralegal work, compliance roles, or administrative positions in law firms and corporate legal departments.

The limited data here—too few graduates to report actual outcomes—should make you ask hard questions about program viability and job placement. Similar programs in Nebraska show higher earnings around $45,000, which suggests there may be better options in-state. Creighton is a well-regarded institution, but at a school where only 5% of students receive Pell grants and the tuition runs significantly higher than public alternatives, you're paying private school prices for a degree that leads to decidedly middle-income careers.

If law school is the ultimate goal, understand that this major offers no admissions advantage over cheaper alternatives—law schools care about GPA and LSAT scores, not your undergraduate major. If the plan is to enter the workforce after graduation, compare this program's cost carefully against community college paralegal certificates or in-state public options that might deliver similar career outcomes at half the debt.