Legal Support Services at National American University-Rapid City
Bachelor's Degree
national.edu/locations/campuses/rapid-cityAnalysis
A debt load of nearly $49,000 for a bachelor's in legal support services raises immediate concerns about return on investment. While the estimated first-year earnings of $36,900 align with what's typical for this field nationally, that debt figure—derived from similar private institutions—is dramatically higher than the national median of $27,875 for legal support programs. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.32, meaning graduates would owe more than a full year's salary before taxes.
The national data shows this field doesn't command premium salaries even at top-performing programs, where 75th percentile earnings reach just $42,160. Legal support roles—paralegals, legal assistants, court reporters—are stable career paths, but they're rarely high-paying enough to comfortably manage debt loads approaching $50,000. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already stretching financially, making manageable debt even more critical.
Before committing, compare this program's total cost against community colleges or public universities offering paralegal studies. Many legal support professionals enter the field with associate degrees or certificates at a fraction of this cost. If a bachelor's degree is preferred, look for programs where total debt would stay closer to that $27,875 national benchmark—the difference of $20,000 in principal could mean years of financial flexibility in your child's twenties.
Where National American University-Rapid City Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Legal Support Services bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 National American University-Rapid CityRapid City | $16,065 | $36,900* | — | $48,729* | — |
 Roger Williams UniversityBristol | $42,666 | $51,445* | $43,076 | $19,619* | 0.38 |
 SUNY College of Technology at CantonCanton | $8,689 | $48,269* | $41,745 | $30,708* | 0.64 |
 Stevenson UniversityOwings Mills | $39,708 | $46,661* | $47,122 | $27,000* | 0.58 |
 Peirce CollegePhiladelphia | $15,060 | $46,406* | $45,401 | $47,341* | 1.02 |
 University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati | $13,570 | $45,549* | $54,323 | $25,258* | 0.55 |
| National Median | — | $36,900* | — | $27,875* | 0.76 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with legal support services graduates
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Interpreters and Translators
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Legal Support Workers, All Other
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 National American University-Rapid City, approximately 57% 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 national median of 36 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.