Est. Earnings (1yr)
$38,538
Est. from FL median (8 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$18,300
Est. from FL median (8 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 suggests reasonable affordability—based on comparable programs in Florida, graduates could expect to carry roughly half a year's salary in debt. Similar legal support programs across the state point to first-year earnings around $38,500, which aligns with the national median but falls short of top-performing programs like Palm Beach State ($46,622) and Seminole State ($44,783). The estimated $18,300 in debt is notably lower than both the state median ($21,036) and national median ($25,166), potentially reflecting Tallahassee State's commitment to keeping costs manageable for its student body, over a third of whom receive Pell grants.

The challenge is that we're working entirely with estimates here—neither earnings nor debt figures come from Tallahassee State's actual graduates, making it difficult to assess whether this specific program delivers competitive outcomes. The Florida legal support market shows considerable variation, with the strongest programs producing first-year earnings 20% higher than the state median. Without knowing where Tallahassee State falls in that range, families are betting on typical outcomes rather than proven results.

If your child is set on paralegal work and needs to stay local, the lower estimated debt offers some cushion against uncertainty. But before committing, contact the program directly for their actual graduate outcomes and job placement rates—and compare closely with nearby alternatives that have demonstrated track records.

Where Tallahassee State College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Legal Support Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Florida (29 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Tallahassee State CollegeTallahassee$2,026$38,538*—$18,300*—
Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth$3,050$46,622*$44,916$9,000*0.19
Seminole State College of FloridaSanford$3,227$44,783*$41,605$25,858*0.58
Miami Dade CollegeMiami$2,838$40,782*—$12,950*0.32
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa$2,506$39,517*—$21,036*0.53
Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleFort Lauderdale$24,136$37,559*$34,563$29,234*0.78
National Median—$34,421*—$25,166*0.73
* 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 Tallahassee State College, 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 median of 8 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.