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

Analysis

Legal support services programs in Kansas typically produce stronger outcomes than what peer schools nationally suggest for Washburn Institute of Technology. While this program's figures are estimated from national benchmarks—approximately $40,400 in first-year earnings and $19,500 in debt—Kansas-specific data tells a more encouraging story. Similar programs across Kansas generate a median salary of $42,700, with Johnson County Community College graduates earning nearly $45,000 in their first year. That gap matters when you're evaluating whether this certificate delivers competitive positioning in Kansas's legal services market.

The debt load here appears manageable compared to state averages. At an estimated $19,500, borrowing sits well below the $24,000 median for Kansas legal support programs, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5. That means students would theoretically dedicate less than half their first year's salary to debt repayment—a workable scenario for most certificate-seekers entering administrative legal roles.

The real question is whether Washburn's actual outcomes align with state norms or fall closer to national averages. Given that higher-performing Kansas programs report earnings 10-15% above the national median, your child's success may depend heavily on local employer connections and internship quality. Before committing, ask the school directly about job placement rates with Topeka law firms and whether their graduates match the stronger Kansas earnings or track closer to national figures.

Where Washburn Institute of Technology Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Legal Support Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (6 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Washburn Institute of TechnologyTopeka$9,120$40,429*—$19,500*—
Johnson County Community CollegeOverland Park$2,328$44,921*$40,657$19,367*0.43
Rasmussen University-KansasTopeka$15,340$40,492*—$28,796*0.71
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 Washburn Institute of Technology, approximately 17% 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.