Est. Earnings (1yr)
$42,994
Est. from IL median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$14,947
Est. from national median (42 programs)

Analysis

In Illinois, legal support services programs cluster around $43,000 in first-year earnings, and Frontier's estimated outcomes align with this state pattern. The estimated debt load of roughly $15,000 comes in well below what most associate's programs nationally carry—the typical legal support graduate elsewhere faces $25,000 in loans. That 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests a manageable financial start, with less than five months of gross income needed to cover the total borrowed.

The caveat here is that these figures come from peer programs rather than Frontier's actual graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty about what your child would experience specifically. Still, the broader Illinois market for legal support workers appears relatively consistent, with even the larger programs like Southwestern Illinois College reporting nearly identical first-year earnings. The low Pell grant percentage at Frontier (just 8% of students) might suggest a different student profile than typical community colleges, which could indicate less robust financial aid packaging.

For families weighing this path, the estimated numbers point toward a workable investment if your child is committed to paralegal or legal assistant work in Illinois. The debt burden appears light enough to absorb even if actual earnings come in somewhat lower than the state median. Just recognize you're making this decision with limited visibility into Frontier's specific track record in placing graduates.

Where Frontier Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Legal Support Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (24 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Frontier Community CollegeFairfield$4,390$42,994*$14,947*
Generations CollegeChicago$12,700$43,061*$24,750*0.57
Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville$3,870$42,994*$40,683$14,348*0.33
Rasmussen University-IllinoisRockford$13,546$34,421*$37,112$27,876*0.81
National Median$34,421*$25,166*0.73
* 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 Frontier Community College, approximately 8% 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 3 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.