Law (JD) Degree in Cleveland, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Law (JD) degree analysis for Cleveland, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$0
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$0
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
N/A
in Cleveland
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Law (JD) in Cleveland, OH Overview
Cleveland, Ohio (pop. 372,624) has 20 colleges offering Law (JD) programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,156/month. Law (JD) enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in . The adjusted starting salary in Cleveland is approximately $0.
Category
Legal
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$11,270/yr
Private Tuition
$49,395/yr
Room & Board
$10,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,310/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
69%
Law (JD) Salary in Cleveland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cleveland's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Law (JD) salary: $0 starting, $0 mid-career, $0 senior level.Cleveland adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Law (JD) ROI Calculator for Cleveland
Estimate your return on investment for a Law (JD) degree using local Cleveland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,270 | Private avg: $49,395
Cleveland avg aid: $7,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,656
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$-33,600
vs HS diploma in Cleveland
ROI Payback Period
N/A
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cleveland
$-86,656
Lifetime earnings premium ($0) minus total education cost ($86,656)
Student Loan Payoff for Law (JD) in Cleveland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cleveland for Law (JD)
Case Western Reserve University
private
$56,480/yr
$225,920 total
Cleveland State University
public
$11,270/yr
$45,080 total
John Carroll University
private
$42,310/yr
$169,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cuyahoga Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Law (JD) in Cleveland
Cleveland offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Law (JD) graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cleveland Hiring Sectors for Legal
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Law (JD) Job Titles
Law (JD) in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$0 starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$0 starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$0 starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$0 starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$0 starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$0 starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$0 starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$0 starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Law (JD) Degree in Cleveland — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Law (JD) ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Cleveland.