Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies: is this first professional degree worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$94,594 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.
$94,594Median year-4 earnings
$34,991Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$94,594Median reported earnings · year 4
$113,830Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
54thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
4Reporting programs
4With year-4 earnings
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,496
- Federal debt
- $26,718
- Reporting programs
- 4
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $103,797
- Federal debt
- $19,500
- Reporting programs
- 3
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $107,540
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 43
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $123,199
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $94,594
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $98,030
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
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.
Median
25th percentile$81,178National median$94,59475th percentile$99,212
4 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
4 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$155,436Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$29,1672Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$99,212Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$40,8153Thomas M Cooley Law SchoolLansing, MI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$89,975Federal debtNot availableAnnual net priceNot available4Vermont Law and Graduate SchoolSouth Royalton, VT · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$81,178Federal debtNot availableAnnual net priceNot available
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northwestern University$155,4362Georgetown University$99,2123Thomas M Cooley Law School$89,9754Vermont Law and Graduate School$81,178Observed 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.
LawyersSOC 23-1011 · 25 crosswalk linksLaw Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1112 · 24 crosswalk links
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 | Northwestern UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Evanston, IL | $155,436 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,167 |
| 2 | Georgetown UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Washington, DC | $99,212 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,815 |
| 3 | Thomas M Cooley Law SchoolFirst Professional Degree | Lansing, MI | $89,975 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 4 | Vermont Law and Graduate SchoolFirst Professional Degree | South Royalton, VT | $81,178 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
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.