Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at The University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA's Legal Studies program produces troublingly low first-year earnings of $23,017—barely above minimum wage and landing in just the 5th percentile nationally. That $21,500 in debt might seem manageable in absolute terms, but when graduates earn less than $2,000 per month, even this "reasonable" debt burden translates to nearly a full year's salary.

Here's the puzzling part: this program actually ranks at the 60th percentile among Texas legal studies programs, meaning most in-state alternatives perform even worse. The national median for this degree is $39,162—a staggering 70% higher than what UTSA graduates earn. This suggests either that the legal studies job market in Texas is dramatically weaker than elsewhere, or that these programs aren't effectively preparing students for roles that leverage their degrees. Given UTSA's high Pell grant population (42%), many students here can least afford a credential that doesn't translate to family-sustaining wages.

If your child is interested in legal careers, this data strongly suggests looking at paralegal certificate programs or four-year degrees at institutions with established legal employer pipelines. At under $24,000 annually, these earnings barely justify four years of college investment—even at UTSA's in-state tuition rates. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) adds some uncertainty, but it's not enough to overcome the fundamental return-on-investment problem here.