Est. Earnings (1yr)
$43,918
Est. from MN median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$19,500
Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

Minnesota's legal support services certificate programs cluster tightly around $44,000 in first-year earnings, and estimates suggest Minnesota State College Southeast lands right at this mark. With an estimated debt load of $19,500—meaningfully lower than the $26,500 state median—this program appears positioned to deliver solid value in a field with steady administrative demand.

The estimated 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio indicates a half-year's salary in debt, which typically represents manageable repayment for those entering stable paralegal or legal assistant roles. Peer programs across Minnesota show fairly consistent outcomes, with the top program at North Hennepin earning just $5,000 more annually—a narrow spread that suggests the credential itself matters more than the specific institution. The national picture reinforces this: Minnesota programs collectively outperform the $40,400 national median.

The practical consideration here is that legal support roles require precision and local market connections more than prestige credentials. If your child can keep living costs low in Winona and graduate near this debt estimate, the math works for entry into a profession with clear career ladders. However, since these figures are drawn from peer programs rather than verified outcomes from this specific campus, confirm the school's placement relationships with local law firms and courts before committing.

Where Minnesota State College Southeast Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Legal Support Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (15 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Minnesota State College SoutheastWinona$7,820$43,918*$19,500*
North Hennepin Community CollegeBrooklyn Park$5,050$48,599*$52,694*
Hamline UniversitySaint Paul$48,311$43,918*$55,062$24,250*0.55
Rasmussen University-MinnesotaSt. Cloud$10,899$40,492*$28,796*0.71
National Median$40,429*$20,834*0.52
* 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 Minnesota State College Southeast, approximately 22% 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 3 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.