Pre-Law / Legal Studies Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Preparation for law school and legal careers through study of law and legal systems.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$82K
salary
ROI Payback
5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Pre-Law / Legal Studies Overview
Preparation for law school and legal careers through study of law and legal systems.
Category
Legal Studies
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
68%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
22%
Lifetime Premium
$550K
Female Graduates
52%
Pre-Law / Legal Studies Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,000
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,000
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$532,000
Lifetime earnings premium ($550,000) minus net degree cost ($18,000)
Pre-Law / Legal Studies Salary Progression
Common Pre-Law / Legal Studies Careers
Paralegal
Legal Assistant
Law Clerk
Compliance Analyst
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Pre-Law / Legal Studies
#1
Harvard
#2
Yale
#3
Stanford
#4
Georgetown
#5
University of Michigan
Related Majors
Pre-Law / Legal Studies Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Pre-Law / Legal Studies Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for pre-law / legal studies programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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