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

Analysis

Based on comparable legal support programs nationwide, a certificate from Enterprise State would likely result in around $40,400 in first-year earnings against an estimated $19,500 in debt—a ratio that puts loan payments at roughly 5% of gross income. That's manageable territory for an entry-level credential, though it's worth noting these figures come from national peer programs rather than Enterprise State's own graduates.

Legal support roles—paralegals, legal assistants, court clerks—typically offer stable employment in Alabama's smaller legal markets, where Enterprise and the surrounding Wiregrass region operate. The estimated debt here sits slightly below what similar programs nationally report ($20,834 median), which matters when you're entering a field where first-year salaries rarely stretch much beyond $40,000. The fact that 35% of Enterprise State students receive Pell grants suggests the school serves a population where every dollar of debt counts.

The real question is whether this certificate provides enough specialized training to compete for paralegal positions that might otherwise go to candidates with associate degrees or bachelor's degrees. If your child can complete this program quickly with minimal debt and start earning immediately, the debt-to-income picture looks reasonable. But without actual outcome data from Enterprise State itself, you're making this decision based on what happens at similar programs elsewhere—not what this specific school delivers.

Where Enterprise State Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Legal Support Services certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Enterprise State Community CollegeEnterprise$5,040$40,429*—$19,500*—
Tacoma Community CollegeTacoma$4,920$50,681*—$17,629*0.35
Loyola University ChicagoChicago$51,716$48,819*—$35,000*0.72
North Hennepin Community CollegeBrooklyn Park$5,050$48,599*$52,694—*—
Edmonds CollegeLynnwood$4,669$45,880*—$23,471*0.51
College of Lake CountyGrayslake$4,494$45,094*——*—
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 Enterprise State Community College, approximately 35% 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.