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

Lipscomb's legal studies program produces first-year earnings of $32,967—roughly $6,000 below the national average for this degree. While that places it in just the 22nd percentile nationally, the Tennessee comparison tells a different story: these graduates earn exactly the state median, ranking 60th percentile among the handful of similar programs in Tennessee. The $24,500 debt load is reasonable, translating to a 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio that won't be crushing but will require careful budgeting.

The real concern here isn't the debt—it's that $33,000 starting salary for a bachelor's degree from a private university. That's below what many associate degree programs produce. Legal studies degrees typically serve as preparation for law school or paralegal work, but without clear career planning, graduates risk underemployment. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty; outcomes for future cohorts could vary significantly.

For families paying private tuition at Lipscomb, this program only makes sense with a concrete plan: either heading to law school, securing a paralegal position before graduation, or leveraging Nashville's legal job market through internships. Without that roadmap, you're investing in a credential that struggles to deliver returns matching its educational tier.