Legal Support Services at Hillsborough Community College

Hillsborough Community College graduates from this paralegal program start at $39,517—about $5,100 above the national median and roughly on par with Florida's state average. That's solid performance for a community college associate's degree, though it's worth noting this lags behind the top state programs like Palm Beach State ($46,622) and Seminole State ($44,783) by a meaningful margin.

The debt picture is manageable at $21,036, translating to a 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio that falls comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold. This matches Florida's median debt for the program, suggesting reasonable borrowing relative to what similar students elsewhere in the state take on. For families watching costs, this represents about half a year's salary in debt—a reasonable investment for immediate workforce entry.

The major caveat here is the small sample size (under 30 graduates), which means a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. If your child is drawn to paralegal work and wants to stay in the Tampa area, this program offers decent value. However, if they're willing to commute or relocate within Florida, the higher-earning programs at Palm Beach State or Seminole State might justify the extra effort—those graduates earn $7,000+ more right out of the gate, which compounds substantially over a career.