Analysis
The estimated debt burden here—around $18,300—sits well below what most Florida community colleges report for this credential, though the earnings picture derived from similar programs suggests a graduate would need less than six months of income to clear it. That's manageable math for an associate's degree. Based on comparable legal support programs across Florida, first-year earnings around $38,500 align with the state median, though top-performing programs at Palm Beach State and Seminole State consistently produce graduates earning $45,000 or more.
The four-year earnings figure of $40,200 suggests modest wage growth in this field, which tracks with what we know about paralegal and legal assistant careers—steady work but compressed salary ranges. Similar programs nationally typically produce lower earnings ($34,400 median), so Florida's legal market appears to offer a geographic advantage. The real question is whether FSCJ's program delivers outcomes closer to the state average or to the stronger programs in the system.
Given the limited actual data from this program, you're essentially betting on whether FSCJ's legal support training matches the quality of its peers. The debt is reasonable enough that even below-average outcomes wouldn't be catastrophic, but without confirmed graduate earnings from this specific program, you can't know if your daughter would be better served by applying to one of the schools with documented stronger performance.
Where Florida State College at Jacksonville Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services associates's programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | — | $40,200 | — |
| Palm Beach State College | $46,622 | $44,916 | -4% |
| Seminole State College of Florida | $44,783 | $41,605 | -7% |
| Valencia College | $32,210 | $40,281 | +25% |
| Rasmussen University-Florida | $34,421 | $37,112 | +8% |
Compare to Similar Programs in Florida
Legal Support Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Florida (29 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville | $2,878 | $38,538* | $40,200 | $18,300* | — |
 Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth | $3,050 | $46,622* | $44,916 | $9,000* | 0.19 |
 Seminole State College of FloridaSanford | $3,227 | $44,783* | $41,605 | $25,858* | 0.58 |
 Miami Dade CollegeMiami | $2,838 | $40,782* | — | $12,950* | 0.32 |
 Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa | $2,506 | $39,517* | — | $21,036* | 0.53 |
 Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleFort Lauderdale | $24,136 | $37,559* | $34,563 | $29,234* | 0.78 |
| National Median | — | $34,421* | — | $25,166* | 0.73 |
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 Florida State College at Jacksonville, 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 median of 8 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.