Legal Professions and Studies at Drake University

Drake's Legal Professions program shows dramatically different outcomes depending on your timeline—and that's critical for families to understand before committing. First-year earnings of $29,273 lag far behind the national median ($37,766), placing graduates in just the 11th percentile nationally. But by year four, earnings jump to $58,783, representing a 101% increase that substantially outpaces typical career trajectories for this degree.

The $23,750 debt load is reasonable—about 12% below the national median—and crucially, it represents less than a full year's salary even in that difficult first year. This suggests graduates may work in positions that require experience before reaching typical legal support salaries, or they're transitioning into roles that value their legal training but weren't entry-level options. The state percentile of 60th might seem modest, but Iowa has only one school reporting data for this program, making state comparisons less meaningful here.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, so verify current outcomes directly with Drake. If your student can weather that first year financially—perhaps with family support or through continued part-time work—the trajectory looks promising. But if they need immediate post-graduation income to service debt, this program's delayed payoff presents real challenges.