Analysis
A bachelor's degree in legal support services typically leads to paralegal and legal assistant roles—positions where many practitioners enter with associate's degrees or certificates rather than four-year credentials. Based on comparable programs nationwide, first-year earnings hover around $36,900, which raises questions about whether the extended education justifies the investment. The estimated $32,700 in debt falls above the national median for this program and well above what New York students typically carry ($22,636), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that will require careful budgeting in those crucial early career years.
The gap between Daemen's estimated outcomes and other New York programs is worth noting. SUNY Canton graduates in this field earn nearly $48,000—over 30% more than what peer programs suggest for Daemen—while CUNY New York City College of Technology comes in closer to the national average. For a family considering a $130,000+ investment in a four-year private institution, that differential matters when the career itself doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree to enter.
Your child could be better served by exploring associate's degrees or certificate programs in paralegal studies, which offer faster entry into the field with significantly less debt. If a bachelor's degree is the goal, the public options in New York appear to deliver stronger earnings outcomes at lower cost. Given the uncertainty in these estimates and the competitive landscape, securing specific placement and salary data from Daemen's career services office before committing would be essential.
Where Daemen University Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in New York
Legal Support Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New York (5 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33,724 | $36,900* | — | $32,701* | — | |
| $8,689 | $48,269* | $41,745 | $30,708* | 0.64 | |
| $7,332 | $34,675* | $50,044 | $14,563* | 0.42 | |
| National Median | — | $36,900* | — | $27,875* | 0.76 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with legal support services graduates
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Interpreters and Translators
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Legal Support Workers, All Other
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 Daemen University, approximately 42% 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 36 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.