Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,900
Est. from national median (36 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,258
Est. from national median (17 programs)

Analysis

A bachelor's degree in legal support services carries significant risk when similar programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,900—well below what paralegals and legal assistants with two-year degrees often earn. At an estimated $25,000 in debt, graduates would face payments consuming roughly 10% of their take-home pay, which is manageable but only if those earnings estimates hold true. The concern is whether four years of undergraduate study delivers enough advantage over associate-degree holders competing for the same paralegal positions.

Texas programs tell a more optimistic story, with the state median for legal support bachelor's programs reaching $42,700—about $6,000 higher than the national figure. University of Houston-Clear Lake graduates, for instance, report earnings at that state median level. If Stephen F. Austin's program performs closer to the Texas average than the national one, the debt burden becomes much more reasonable. However, without actual graduate outcomes from this specific program, you're betting that a less selective regional university can match results from programs across the state.

The practical question is whether the bachelor's credential opens doors that justify the investment over a two-year paralegal certificate, which costs far less and gets students working sooner. Given the uncertainty in these estimates and the competitive paralegal job market, families should understand they're taking on real risk with limited evidence this four-year path pays off better than faster, cheaper alternatives.

Where Stephen F Austin State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Legal Support Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (6 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches$10,600$36,900*$25,258*
University of Houston-Clear LakeHouston$7,746$42,723*$48,678$20,625*0.48
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 Stephen F Austin State University, approximately 37% 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.