Legal Support Services at Phoenix College

Phoenix College's Legal Support Services program graduates earn substantially more than the typical paralegal program nationwide—about $11,000 more in the first year—though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. Within Arizona, this program sits in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, meaning about half of the state's paralegal programs produce similar or better outcomes. The $15,000 debt load is remarkably manageable compared to the national median of $25,000, giving graduates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33—meaning they owe roughly one-third of their first-year salary.

The slight earnings decline from $45,838 to $44,956 over four years isn't ideal, but with this small a sample, it could reflect just a few graduates changing jobs or working reduced hours rather than a genuine trend. More concerning for planning purposes is simply that we're looking at very limited data. The actual experience for your child could vary considerably from these figures.

For an associate's degree costing $15,000 that leads to mid-40s earnings, this represents solid value—assuming the small sample reflects reality. Before committing, try to speak with recent graduates or the career services office to get a clearer picture of typical job placements and whether most grads actually land paralegal positions making these wages.