Pre-Law / Legal Studies Degree in Long Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Pre-Law / Legal Studies degree analysis for Long Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$95K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Long Beach
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Pre-Law / Legal Studies in Long Beach, CA Overview
Long Beach, California (pop. 466,742) has 14 colleges offering Pre-Law / Legal Studies programs. The local cost of living index of 116 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,546/month. Pre-Law / Legal Studies enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Legal Research and Writing. The adjusted starting salary in Long Beach is approximately $58,000, growing to $95,120 by mid-career.
Category
Legal Studies
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$4,169/yr
Private Tuition
$9,960/yr
Room & Board
$17,446/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,553/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
60%
Pre-Law / Legal Studies Salary in Long Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Long Beach's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Pre-Law / Legal Studies salary: $50,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Long Beach adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Pre-Law / Legal Studies ROI Calculator for Long Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Pre-Law / Legal Studies degree using local Long Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $4,169 | Private avg: $9,960
Long Beach avg aid: $15,553/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,460
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,400
vs HS diploma in Long Beach
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Long Beach
$551,540
Lifetime earnings premium ($638,000) minus total education cost ($86,460)
Student Loan Payoff for Pre-Law / Legal Studies in Long Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Long Beach for Pre-Law / Legal Studies
California State University, Long Beach
public
$6,798/yr
$27,192 total
Long Beach City College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Pacific Coast University School of Law
private
$9,960/yr
$39,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Long Beach City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Pre-Law / Legal Studies in Long Beach
Long Beach offers opportunities in Law firms, Government agencies, Corporate legal departments for Pre-Law / Legal Studies graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Long Beach Hiring Sectors for Legal Studies
Law firms
Government agencies
Corporate legal departments
Non-profits
Courts
Common Pre-Law / Legal Studies Job Titles
Pre-Law / Legal Studies in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$67K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Legal Studies Majors in Long Beach
Pre-Law / Legal Studies Degree in Long Beach — 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 Pre-Law / Legal Studies ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Long Beach.