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

Analysis

North Carolina's legal support programs typically produce stronger outcomes than what these national estimates suggest for Guilford Tech. With a state median of $42,645 for similar credentials, and nearby Central Piedmont reporting $44,012 for their graduates, the estimated $40,429 first-year earnings here fall slightly below what families might expect from comparable North Carolina programs. The debt picture adds another layer of caution—an estimated $19,500 represents nearly half a year's salary, while the state median sits at $16,702.

The challenge with legal support certificates is their narrow career path. These credentials typically prepare graduates for paralegal and legal assistant roles in a field where practical skills and local connections matter enormously. Without actual outcome data from Guilford Tech's program, you're investing based on hope that their graduates match the national average rather than reaching the higher bar set by other North Carolina community colleges.

Given that stronger-performing programs exist elsewhere in the state with documented results, you'd want compelling reasons—location constraints, specific instructor expertise, or immediate job placement assistance—to choose this program over alternatives with proven track records. The estimated debt load isn't catastrophic, but when peer schools are producing better results with less debt, that's information worth acting on.

Where Guilford Technical Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Legal Support Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (23 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown$2,319$40,429*—$19,500*—
Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte$2,792$44,012*$47,356—*—
Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield$2,657$41,278*$35,347—*—
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 Guilford Technical Community College, approximately 41% 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.