Legal Support Services at South University-West Palm Beach

The $48,729 debt load here demands your immediate attention—it's nearly double what Florida students typically take on for this degree ($29,008) and places this program in the 5th percentile nationally for affordability. Your child would be borrowing significantly more than peers at comparable Florida programs while earning less: the median $36,900 starting salary falls below the state average and ranks in just the 40th percentile among Florida's seven legal support programs.

The earnings trajectory offers little relief. Four years out, graduates earn $38,332—a modest 4% gain that barely outpaces inflation. Meanwhile, St. Petersburg College graduates in this field start at $43,499, and Florida Gulf Coast graduates earn $39,824, both with considerably less debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.32 means your child would owe more than a full year's salary, making those monthly loan payments a real strain on an entry-level paralegal's budget.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary more than usual. Still, the combination of below-average Florida earnings and significantly above-average debt creates a challenging starting point. If your child is set on legal support work, Florida's public options deliver better value—or consider whether an associate degree program might provide the same career entry point with far less financial risk.