Law (JD) Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Law (JD) degree analysis for Columbia, MO. 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 Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Law (JD) in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Law (JD) programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/month. Law (JD) enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in . The adjusted starting salary in Columbia is approximately $0.
Category
Legal
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Law (JD) Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Law (JD) salary: $0 starting, $0 mid-career, $0 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Law (JD) ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Law (JD) degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$-29,400
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
N/A
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$-88,208
Lifetime earnings premium ($0) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Law (JD) in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Law (JD)
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Law (JD) in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Law (JD) graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Legal
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Law (JD) Job Titles
Law (JD) in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$0 starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$0 starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$0 starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$0 starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$0 starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$0 starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$0 starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$0 starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Law (JD) Degree in Columbia — 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 Columbia.