Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,289
Est. from OH median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$28,796
Est. from national median (11 programs)

Analysis

Is an undergraduate certificate in legal support services worth $28,796 in debt when first-year earnings barely clear $35,000? Based on comparable programs in Ohio, this field typically produces modest starting salaries—well below the $40,429 national median for similar credentials. The estimated debt load here, drawn from peer institutions nationally, exceeds what most legal support programs carry by nearly $8,000, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that leaves little breathing room for someone starting out in this career.

The student population here—85% receive Pell grants—suggests families who can least afford to shoulder heavy debt burdens. Similar Ohio programs show graduates earning in the same ballpark, but typically with lower debt. That difference matters tremendously when you're trying to make monthly payments on an administrative salary. Legal support work can offer stable employment, but the economics need to work from day one.

Before committing, get specific numbers from this school about actual graduate outcomes and compare the debt picture to other Ohio programs training paralegals and legal assistants. If this school's actual debt matches the estimate while earnings stay modest, you're looking at a significant financial strain that could take years to resolve.

Where Ohio Business College-Sheffield Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Legal Support Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (26 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Ohio Business College-SheffieldSheffield Village$9,385$35,289*—$28,796*—
Bryant & Stratton College-ParmaParma$19,542$36,398*—$18,335*0.50
Stautzenberger College-MaumeeMaumee$16,699$35,289*—$20,834*0.59
Stautzenberger College-BrecksvilleBrecksville$16,699$35,289*—$20,834*0.59
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 Ohio Business College-Sheffield, approximately 85% 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 OH. Actual outcomes may vary.