Legal Support Services at Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute

Starting at $27,479, this program's first-year earnings fall below three-quarters of similar legal support programs nationally and sit at the 25th percentile even within Pennsylvania, where the median graduate earns $33,860—nearly $6,400 more. The debt load of $30,263 exceeds what 94% of other legal support programs nationally charge, and it's roughly 45% higher than Pennsylvania's median debt for this field. For context, Harrisburg Area Community College graduates earn $40,240—nearly 50% more—likely with significantly less debt.

The positive here is genuine earnings growth: the 23% increase to $33,880 by year four suggests graduates can build viable careers. By year four, earnings catch up to Pennsylvania's median. However, that initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.10 means graduates start with debt exceeding their annual income, making those first years financially challenging. With over half of students receiving Pell grants, many are already navigating tight budgets.

If your child is set on legal support work, community colleges in Pennsylvania offer substantially better value—better starting salaries with less debt. This program eventually gets graduates to a reasonable income, but the combination of below-average starting pay and above-average debt creates a difficult launch that alternatives could avoid.