Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at Lakewood University

Looking at similar legal studies programs nationally, this bachelor's degree is positioned to generate first-year earnings around $39,000—but that's well below what Ohio programs typically deliver. The median across Ohio legal studies programs sits at $51,000, meaning comparable programs in-state are producing outcomes nearly 30% higher. When Ohio State's reported outcome matches that state median exactly, it suggests Lakewood may be competing at a disadvantage in placement or employer connections within the same regional job market.

The estimated $27,000 debt load yields a manageable 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio, which on paper looks reasonable. However, that ratio assumes first-year earnings that peer programs in Ohio suggest may be optimistic for this particular institution. If actual outcomes trend lower than the national estimate used here, that debt becomes harder to service. The fact that only 5% of Lakewood students receive Pell grants also suggests this may not be a program designed with price-conscious families in mind.

For families considering this program, the critical question is whether it can deliver Ohio-level outcomes or will track closer to the national baseline. Given the $12,000 annual earnings gap between those benchmarks, ask the school directly about graduate placement rates and starting salaries for recent cohorts. Without confirmed data showing this program beats the national average, you're betting on an uncertain outcome in a state where stronger alternatives exist.