Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,900
Est. from national median (36 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$48,729
Est. from national median (7 programs)

Analysis

A bachelor's degree in Legal Support Services faces a fundamental math problem when debt approaches $49,000 while peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $37,000. That 1.32 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could be carrying debt equal to 16 months of pre-tax income—a heavy burden for a support role that typically doesn't require a four-year degree. The national benchmark shows most programs in this field produce median debt of just $28,000, suggesting alternative pathways exist that lead to similar outcomes with considerably less financial exposure.

The 57% Pell grant enrollment indicates this program serves many students from lower-income backgrounds, making that debt load particularly concerning. Legal support roles—paralegals, legal assistants, court clerks—offer stable careers, but salaries in these positions grow slowly and don't typically justify bachelor's-level debt loads. Similar programs nationally suggest earnings in the high-$30,000s to low-$40,000s even several years out, meaning the debt could take well over a decade to pay down comfortably.

Before committing to this program, compare it directly to associate degree options in paralegal studies or legal assistant programs, which often produce comparable job prospects at half the debt. If a bachelor's degree is the goal, ensure your child understands they're making a significant financial bet on a field where credentials from less expensive programs typically produce similar career trajectories.

Where Provo College 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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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Provo CollegeProvo$16,491$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
* 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 Provo College, 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.