Legal Professions and Studies, Other: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
$81,722 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,579
- Federal debt
- $16,052
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,168
- Federal debt
- $29,518
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,249
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 13
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $102,110
- Federal debt
- $18,614
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $81,722
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 11
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $96,688
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $129,281
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1New York University$254,3262Northwestern University$102,1933Tulane University of Louisiana$100,3224University of Nevada-Reno$88,7635Stevenson University$87,8776University of Baltimore$81,7227Montclair State University$72,2888Arizona State University Campus Immersion$72,0169University of Arizona$71,82910Yeshiva University$65,895Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $254,326 | Not available | Baseline needed | $37,050 |
| 2 | Northwestern UniversityMaster's Degree | Evanston, IL | $102,193 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,167 |
| 3 | Tulane University of LouisianaMaster's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $100,322 | Not available | Baseline needed | $39,949 |
| 4 | University of Nevada-RenoMaster's Degree | Reno, NV | $88,763 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,927 |
| 5 | Stevenson UniversityMaster's Degree | Owings Mills, MD | $87,877 | Not available | Baseline needed | $26,505 |
| 6 | University of BaltimoreMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $81,722 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,868 |
| 7 | Montclair State UniversityMaster's Degree | Montclair, NJ | $72,288 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,566 |
| 8 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $72,016 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 9 | University of ArizonaMaster's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $71,829 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,674 |
| 10 | Yeshiva UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $65,895 | Not available | Baseline needed | $49,965 |
| 11 | Regent UniversityMaster's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $65,794 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,923 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.