Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,695
Est. from CA median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,358
Est. from national median (23 programs)

Analysis

Borrowing an estimated $27,358 for this associate's degree creates immediate financial tension. While peer programs in California suggest first-year earnings around $41,700—better than the national median—that debt figure sits nearly double the state median of $14,353 for comparable legal support programs. This gap matters because it suggests students here are taking on significantly more debt for roughly the same earning potential available at dozens of other California institutions.

The 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio itself isn't catastrophic, but context reveals the problem. California community colleges and some private institutions are producing similar or better outcomes with far less debt. Mt. San Antonio College graduates, for instance, carry minimal debt burdens, and MTI College shows earnings approaching $48,000. With 55% of Humphreys students receiving Pell grants, that extra $13,000 in estimated debt hits families who can least afford it.

The core issue here isn't the career itself—legal support roles provide stable employment—but the financing structure. Before committing, compare specific debt packages from programs like MTI or local community colleges that report stronger debt-to-earnings profiles. If Humphreys requires substantially more borrowing than alternatives offering similar preparation, that premium needs clear justification beyond what these estimated outcomes suggest.

Where Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Legal Support Services associates's programs at peer institutions in California (63 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto CampusesStockton$14,760$41,695*—$27,358*—
MTI CollegeSacramento—$47,535*$48,502$13,758*0.29
South Coast CollegeOrange$13,409$44,536*$48,586—*—
Fremont UniversityCerritos—$38,854*$39,533$21,312*0.55
Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut$1,364$29,569*$34,315$14,353*0.49
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 Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses, approximately 55% 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 4 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.