Legal Support Services at Herzing University-Akron

Herzing University-Akron's paralegals earn more right out of the gate than most—$39,952 puts graduates in the 75th percentile nationally and 60th percentile in Ohio. That's roughly $5,500 above the national median and $4,500 above Ohio's typical earnings for this associate's degree. The debt load of $31,441 is high for a two-year program but stays under the one-year earnings threshold, with a manageable 0.79 debt-to-income ratio.

The troubling part is what happens next: earnings drop to $36,486 by year four, a 9% decline that's unusual for any career track. This could signal that the strong starting salary reflects temporary placement advantages that don't hold, or it might just be statistical noise—the sample size here is under 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than you'd want for a major financial decision.

For families prioritizing immediate employment in legal support roles, the strong initial placement offers value despite the higher debt. But that earnings decline means parents shouldn't expect growing paychecks to make the loan payments easier over time. If your child is committed to paralegal work, this gets them to a decent starting point faster than most Ohio programs. Just ensure they have a clear plan for career advancement beyond entry-level positions.