Law (JD) Degree in New York, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Law (JD) degree analysis for New York, NY. 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 New York
Cost of Living
187.2
index (100 = avg)
Law (JD) in New York, NY Overview
New York is one of New York's top college towns, with 279 institutions and a student population of 418,559. Public tuition averages $10,200/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Law (JD) enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in . The adjusted starting salary in New York is approximately $0.
Category
Legal
Local Colleges
279
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,701/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,243/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
59%
Law (JD) Salary in New York (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New York's cost of living index of 187.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Law (JD) salary: $0 starting, $0 mid-career, $0 senior level.New York adjustment factor: 1.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Law (JD) ROI Calculator for New York
Estimate your return on investment for a Law (JD) degree using local New York tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $42,000
New York avg aid: $8,243/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,604
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$-65,520
vs HS diploma in New York
ROI Payback Period
N/A
to break even
Lifetime Return in New York
$-115,604
Lifetime earnings premium ($0) minus total education cost ($115,604)
Student Loan Payoff for Law (JD) in New York
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New York for Law (JD)
New York State University
public
$9,794/yr
$39,176 total
University of New York
public
$10,109/yr
$40,436 total
New York Institute of Technology
private
$38,089/yr
$152,356 total
New York University - New York
public
$10,609/yr
$42,436 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New York Community College
$7,506/yr
New York Technical College - New York
$8,204/yr
Top Employers for Law (JD) in New York
New York offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Law (JD) graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New York Hiring Sectors for Legal
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Law (JD) Job Titles
Law (JD) in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$0 starting · COL 166
49 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$0 starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$0 starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$0 starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$0 starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$0 starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$0 starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Huntington, NY
$0 starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Law (JD) Degree in New York — 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 New York.