Legal Support Services at Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University's Legal Support Services bachelor's launches graduates into strong starting salaries—$51,445 puts them in the 95th percentile nationally and well above the typical $36,900 for similar programs. The debt load of $19,619 is remarkably manageable, creating a first-year debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.38. That means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under five months of their starting salary, an unusually favorable position.

The challenge is what happens next. By year four, earnings drop to $43,076, a 16% decline that's unusual for bachelor's degree holders and suggests graduates may be moving into different roles or leaving the legal support field. With only two schools in Rhode Island offering this program and fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these numbers should be treated cautiously—they might reflect the career paths of just a handful of individuals rather than a reliable trend.

For parents, here's the practical calculation: if your child is genuinely committed to paralegal or legal support work, the low debt and strong starting position offer breathing room to find their footing professionally. But the earnings decline signals this program may not lead to a stable, long-term legal career trajectory. It might work better as a stepping stone to law school or other legal roles than as a standalone four-year investment.