Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at National University

Is a bachelor's degree in legal studies worth nearly $27,000 in debt when it doesn't lead to law practice? Based on comparable programs at similar institutions, graduates here might carry that debt load into a first year earning around $44,000. While this earnings estimate matches California's median for legal studies programs and sits at the 75th percentile nationally, the state's typical debt burden is notably lower at $18,400. National University's graduates, by this estimate, would be starting with roughly 50% more debt than their California peers.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 suggests manageable repayment on paper, but context matters. Legal studies at the undergraduate level typically prepares students for paralegal work, compliance roles, or administrative positions in legal settings—not attorney salaries. That $44,000 first-year figure reflects this reality and means monthly loan payments will claim a meaningful chunk of take-home pay. Programs like UC Berkeley and University of La Verne show similar or better earnings outcomes, and Berkeley's public university pricing likely delivers substantially lower debt.

For families considering this path, the central question is whether the specific career doors it opens justify both the cost and the fact that you're working from estimated rather than reported outcomes. If your student is determined to work in legal environments without attending law school, exploring public university options or community college paralegal certificates might offer a clearer value proposition with transparent results.