Est. Earnings (1yr)
$39,952
Est. from WI median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$14,947
Est. from national median (42 programs)

Analysis

For a two-year degree, an estimated debt load of roughly $15,000 keeps this program in manageable territory—about four months of first-year earnings based on what similar Wisconsin legal support programs produce. That's significantly better than the national median debt of $25,000 for this credential, suggesting Milwaukee Area Technical College may offer a more affordable path into paralegal and legal assistant work than many alternatives.

The earnings trajectory here matters for context. While comparable programs in Wisconsin suggest starting pay around $40,000, reported outcomes show graduates at this school reaching nearly $44,000 by year four. That's solid middle-ground performance for an associate's degree, putting graduates at or above the state median for legal support roles. The 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio falls well within reasonable bounds for career-focused technical programs.

With 41% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves many families where affordability is paramount. The estimated figures prevent a definitive assessment, but the combination of below-average debt and steady four-year earnings suggests this could be a practical entry point into Wisconsin's legal field. The key question is whether your child is committed to legal support work specifically—this credential's value depends heavily on landing in that sector rather than adjacent administrative roles.

Where Milwaukee Area Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Milwaukee Area Technical College$43,804
Rasmussen University-Wisconsin$34,421$37,112+8%
Herzing University-Madison$39,952$36,486-9%
Herzing University-Kenosha$39,952$36,486-9%
Herzing University-Brookfield$39,952$36,486-9%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Legal Support Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (14 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee$5,017$39,952*$43,804$14,947*
Herzing University-MadisonMadison$13,420$39,952*$36,486$31,441*0.79
Herzing University-KenoshaKenosha$13,420$39,952*$36,486$31,441*0.79
Herzing University-BrookfieldBrookfield$13,420$39,952*$36,486$31,441*0.79
Rasmussen University-WisconsinGreen Bay$11,982$34,421*$37,112$27,876*0.81
Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaWauwatosa$19,944$30,998*$34,535$25,524*0.82
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 Milwaukee Area Technical College, approximately 41% 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 5 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.