U.S. median for this major: $63,727.
College Scorecard field of study; 35 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 33% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,753.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $76,058. College Scorecard.
American University Legal Studies / Paralegal: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 District of Columbia colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Legal Studies / Paralegal nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses American University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,233 | $95,023 | 2.7 years |
| $30–48k | $20,444 | $83,616 | 2.4 years |
| $48–75k | $26,035 | $106,483 | 3.1 years |
| $75–110k | $30,063 | $122,958 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $53,673 | $219,523 | 6.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (72% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Legal Studies / Paralegal graduates 4 years after graduating ($72,792) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in DC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $34,608 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Legal Studies / Paralegal at District of Columbia colleges
Every District of Columbia college we cover that reports Legal Studies / Paralegal graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of the District of Columbiabachelor's & associate | $74,158 | $40,750 | $10,648 | 33% |
| 2 | American University | $72,792 | $24,375 | $41,943 | 75% |
What families pay at American University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About American University
- Acceptance rate: 62% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $77,370
- Full cost breakdown · all 44 majors · overview
American University Legal Studies / Paralegal questions
How much do American University Legal Studies / Paralegal graduates earn?
Legal Studies / Paralegal graduates of American University earn a median $72,792 four years after graduating and $45,790 one year after. The U.S. median for Legal Studies / Paralegal graduates across 35 colleges is $63,727.
How much debt do American University Legal Studies / Paralegal graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Legal Studies / Paralegal graduates of American University is $24,375, about 33% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,753.
Where does American University rank for Legal Studies / Paralegal in District of Columbia?
Of 2 District of Columbia colleges reporting Legal Studies / Paralegal graduate earnings, American University ranks 2nd; among the 1 that mostly award bachelor's degrees it ranks 1st. The highest is University of the District of Columbia at $74,158.
Is American University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing American University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “American University Legal Studies / Paralegal: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/american-university/majors/legal-studies-paralegal (College Scorecard and BLS data).