Legal Support Services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
smwc.eduAnalysis
Similar legal support programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $40,400, placing this certificate roughly in the middle of the pack—though Indiana programs typically produce more variable outcomes, from over $44,000 at IU-Indianapolis to about $30,000 at Purdue Global. With estimated debt of $18,300 based on comparable credentials at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, which translates to manageable monthly payments that shouldn't exceed typical guidelines for affordable repayment.
The challenge is that these figures are derived from peer programs elsewhere, not actual outcomes from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods graduates in this specific certificate. The school serves a largely Pell-eligible student body (51%), and while its admission profile suggests accessible entry requirements, we simply don't have direct evidence of how *their* legal support graduates fare in Indiana's legal services market. State data shows the median Indiana program produces $37,400 in first-year earnings—somewhat below the national figure—which could reflect regional wage patterns your child should investigate.
For a short certificate program, the estimated debt level seems reasonable if earnings materialize near projections. But given the uncertainty around these specific outcomes, your child should verify current job placement rates directly with the program and connect with recent graduates before committing. The math works on paper; confirmation of real-world results doesn't.
Where Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services certificate's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana
Legal Support Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (9 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33,490 | $40,429* | — | $18,335* | — | |
| $10,449 | $44,576* | $41,755 | $21,963* | 0.49 | |
| $10,110 | $30,224* | $22,001 | $11,642* | 0.39 | |
| National Median | — | $40,429* | — | $20,834* | 0.52 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with legal support services graduates
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Interpreters and Translators
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Legal Support Workers, All Other
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 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, approximately 51% 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 41 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.