Est. Earnings (1yr)
$40,429
Est. from national median (41 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$19,500
Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5 typically signals manageable repayment, and this program's estimated numbers—$19,500 in debt against first-year earnings around $40,400—hit that threshold. However, these figures come from national benchmarks rather than Vance-Granville's actual graduate outcomes, and the state picture suggests there's meaningful variation worth examining. Similar programs across North Carolina show earnings ranging from roughly $41,000 to $44,000, with debt often lower than the national median. Central Piedmont's paralegals, for instance, earn slightly more than these estimates suggest while other community colleges in the state report debt closer to $16,700.

The financial fundamentals look reasonable on paper: paralegals typically find steady work, and a certificate program keeps both time and borrowing limited. But without this school's specific placement and earnings data, you're making decisions in partial darkness. Before your child enrolls, contact Vance-Granville directly to ask about their graduates' actual job placement rates and starting salaries in the local Henderson market, where employer demand and wage levels may differ significantly from state averages. The estimates suggest this could be a sound investment, but confirming that this particular program delivers comparable outcomes is essential before committing.

Where Vance-Granville Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Legal Support Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (23 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson$1,956$40,429*$19,500*
Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte$2,792$44,012*$47,356*
Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield$2,657$41,278*$35,347*
National Median$40,429*$20,834*0.52
* 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 Vance-Granville Community College, approximately 31% 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.