Median Earnings (1yr)
$44,070
85th percentile
Est. Median Debt
$25,258
Est. from national median (17 programs)

Analysis

Indiana University-Indianapolis's Legal Support Services bachelor's produces first-year earnings of $44,070—well above the national median of $36,900 and competitive with other Indiana programs despite coming from an accessible institution with an 81% admission rate. While the $25,258 debt figure is estimated from comparable programs nationally rather than this specific cohort's outcomes, it suggests a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, particularly when weighed against the school's track record of serving students from diverse economic backgrounds.

The earnings advantage matters here. This program outperforms 85% of similar programs nationally, and in Indiana's small legal support market, it holds its own against options like Purdue Global while offering the infrastructure and name recognition of a major university system. Legal support roles—paralegals, legal assistants, court reporters—reward both the credential and the practical training, and IU-Indianapolis appears to deliver on both fronts. The estimated debt load, if it reflects reality, is roughly $22,000 below what other Indiana programs typically produce, though without school-specific data, there's inherent uncertainty in that comparison.

For parents evaluating this path, the combination of strong relative earnings and accessible admission makes this a practical option for students targeting stable legal sector careers. The estimated financials point toward manageable debt for above-average outcomes, but confirm the actual debt picture with the financial aid office before committing—estimation uncertainty matters most when you're writing the check.

Where Indiana University-Indianapolis Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Indiana University-Indianapolis graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Legal Support Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (5 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis$10,449$44,070—$25,258*—
Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette$10,110$41,375$37,589$49,036*1.19
National Median—$36,900—$27,875*0.76
* 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 Indiana University-Indianapolis, approximately 36% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 18 graduates with reported earnings and 16 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.