Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at Morehead State University

At $28,504 starting salary against $26,230 in debt, Morehead State's Legal Studies program places graduates nearly $11,000 below the national median for this degree. That 5th percentile national ranking is stark—95% of similar programs produce higher-earning graduates. The debt burden isn't exceptionally high by national standards, but paired with these earnings, graduates face nearly a full year's salary in loans while earning what amounts to slightly above minimum wage for full-time work.

The state picture offers little comfort. While this program ranks at the 60th percentile among Kentucky's five legal studies programs, that's because Kentucky's offerings collectively underperform. Being "better than most in Kentucky" still means earning $11,000 less than the national median. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty, but it's unlikely that additional data would transform these fundamentals—the earnings gap is too large to explain away.

For a family considering this investment, the path forward isn't clear. Legal studies degrees typically serve as stepping stones to law school or paralegal careers, but this starting salary suggests graduates aren't landing those positions. If your child is set on legal work, they'll need a concrete plan for what comes after this bachelor's degree, because these earnings alone won't justify the cost.