Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,900
Est. from national median (36 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$32,701
Est. from national median (6 programs)

Analysis

A bachelor's in legal support services typically launches graduates into first-year earnings around $37,000—solid paralegal territory but modest for a four-year degree investment. Based on debt patterns at similar private institutions, Wilmington students in this program likely carry about $33,000 in loans, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio just under 1:1. That's manageable but requires discipline, particularly since legal support roles don't typically see the salary acceleration that makes heavier debt loads easier to absorb over time.

Delaware's legal market is small but stable, anchored by Wilmington's corporate law presence. The challenge is that many paralegal positions are accessible with associate degrees or certificates at considerably less cost. Comparable programs nationally produce the same $37,000 earnings figure, which means this bachelor's doesn't appear to command a premium over shorter credentials. The monthly debt payments on $33,000—likely around $350-400—would consume roughly 11-13% of gross income, tight but feasible if you land steady employment in a law firm or corporate legal department.

The real question is whether the four-year credential opens doors that justify the extra time and debt compared to faster paralegal pathways. If your student is committed to legal work and Wilmington's program offers strong placement connections in Delaware's concentrated legal community, the investment could work. Otherwise, the estimated figures suggest exploring whether a two-year program might deliver similar outcomes with substantially less financial exposure.

Where Wilmington University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Legal Support Services bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Wilmington UniversityNew Castle$12,330$36,900*$32,701*
Roger Williams UniversityBristol$42,666$51,445*$43,076$19,619*0.38
SUNY College of Technology at CantonCanton$8,689$48,269*$41,745$30,708*0.64
Stevenson UniversityOwings Mills$39,708$46,661*$47,122$27,000*0.58
Peirce CollegePhiladelphia$15,060$46,406*$45,401$47,341*1.02
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati$13,570$45,549*$54,323$25,258*0.55
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 Wilmington University, approximately 26% 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.