Legal Professions and Studies at Montclair State University

Montclair State's Legal Professions bachelor's program produces first-year earnings of just $27,613—nearly $10,000 below the national median and about $2,400 below New Jersey's already modest state median. While the 40th percentile state ranking might suggest this is middle-of-the-pack for New Jersey, that's misleading context: only four schools in the state offer this program, and even the top performer (Berkeley College-Woodland Park at $32,325) delivers underwhelming outcomes. The debt load of $25,000 is relatively manageable compared to peers, but when your first-year salary barely clears poverty-line wages, even moderate debt becomes a burden.

The program's placement in the 5th percentile nationally is particularly troubling. For a degree path that typically leads to paralegal work or law firm support roles—jobs that should offer stable middle-class earnings—these numbers suggest graduates are struggling to launch careers in their field. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty, but it doesn't change the fundamental problem: this degree costs four years of tuition and effort for earnings that many retail management positions would match.

**The bottom line**: Unless your child has compelling reasons to pursue this specific program at Montclair State (proximity to home, existing connections in legal fields), they'd likely achieve better financial outcomes with a different major at the same school or by reconsidering whether a bachelor's degree in legal studies is the right path to their career goals.