Legal Support Services: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 121 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$111,425 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
166.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−94%Modeled 10-year ROI
$45,714Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$45,714Median reported earnings · year 4
$43,602Average reported earnings · year 5
$22,285Median federal debt
44thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
121Reporting programs
112With 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
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,899
- Federal debt
- $20,834
- Reporting programs
- 54
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,714
- Federal debt
- $22,285
- Reporting programs
- 121
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,444
- Federal debt
- $27,750
- Reporting programs
- 35
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,802
- Federal debt
- $24,621
- Reporting programs
- 5
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,692
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,951
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$40,593National median$45,71475th percentile$51,314
112 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1South Coast College$66,6282Nassau Community College$64,1273Plaza College$62,0674Oakland Community College$60,0915Portland Community College$60,0046Seminole State College of Florida$59,6417Mt San Antonio College$58,8638Austin Community College District$58,5989College of Southern Nevada$58,44610Community College of Philadelphia$58,398Observed 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.
Court Reporters and Simultaneous CaptionersSOC 27-3092 · 3 crosswalk linksLegal Support Workers, All OtherSOC 23-2099 · 2 crosswalk linksInterpreters and TranslatorsSOC 27-3091 · 1 crosswalk linksLegal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsSOC 43-6012 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksParalegals and Legal AssistantsSOC 23-2011 · 1 crosswalk linksTitle Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersSOC 23-2093 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Coast CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orange, CA | $66,628 | Not available | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Nassau Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Garden City, NY | $64,127 | $9,000 | +84% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Plaza CollegeAssociate's Degree | Forest Hills, NY | $62,067 | $20,691 | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Oakland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn Hills, MI | $60,091 | $14,083 | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Portland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Portland, OR | $60,004 | $23,250 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Seminole State College of FloridaAssociate's Degree | Sanford, FL | $59,641 | $25,858 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Mt San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | Walnut, CA | $58,863 | $14,353 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $58,598 | $14,125 | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $58,446 | $8,506 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Community College of PhiladelphiaAssociate's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $58,398 | $20,812 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | MTI CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $58,367 | $13,758 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Fremont UniversityAssociate's Degree | Cerritos, CA | $57,539 | $21,312 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Des Moines Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ankeny, IA | $56,924 | $12,250 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Hillsborough CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tampa, FL | $56,823 | $21,036 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Miami Dade CollegeAssociate's Degree | Miami, FL | $56,521 | $12,950 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Inver Hills Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $55,256 | $24,521 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Annandale, VA | $53,989 | $17,427 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Tacoma Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $53,304 | $12,071 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Edmonds CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lynnwood, WA | $53,288 | $15,531 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Arapahoe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Littleton, CO | $53,181 | $20,750 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Front Range Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Westminster, CO | $53,030 | Not available | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Southwestern Illinois CollegeAssociate's Degree | Belleville, IL | $53,017 | $14,348 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $52,837 | Not available | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | North Hennepin Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn Park, MN | $52,554 | $18,625 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Valencia CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orlando, FL | $51,929 | $16,002 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Liberty UniversityAssociate's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $51,877 | $30,500 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Saint Louis Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bridgeton, MO | $51,646 | $6,500 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Roger Williams UniversityAssociate's Degree | Bristol, RI | $51,534 | $17,363 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Palm Beach State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lake Worth, FL | $51,314 | $9,000 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Phoenix CollegeAssociate's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $51,047 | $15,000 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Anoka Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Anoka, MN | $50,480 | Not available | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Cuyahoga Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $50,360 | Not available | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $49,117 | $17,294 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $48,948 | Not available | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Broward CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $48,911 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Generations CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $48,423 | $24,750 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Crestpoint UniversityAssociate's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $48,417 | $25,250 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Sullivan UniversityAssociate's Degree | Louisville, KY | $47,418 | Not available | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleAssociate's Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $47,220 | $29,234 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Midlands Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | West Columbia, SC | $46,996 | $21,320 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Nunez Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chalmette, LA | $46,503 | $25,348 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Tarrant County College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $46,074 | Not available | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | St Petersburg CollegeAssociate's Degree | St. Petersburg, FL | $45,987 | $29,528 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Delaware Technical Community College-TerryAssociate's Degree | Dover, DE | $45,904 | Not available | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $45,823 | $14,863 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Rasmussen University-FloridaAssociate's Degree | Ocala, FL | $45,751 | $27,876 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaAssociate's Degree | St. Cloud, MN | $45,751 | $27,876 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Rasmussen University-North DakotaAssociate's Degree | Fargo, ND | $45,751 | $27,876 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 49 | Rasmussen University-IllinoisAssociate's Degree | Rockford, IL | $45,751 | $27,876 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Rasmussen University-WisconsinAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $45,751 | $27,876 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 51 | Rasmussen University-KansasAssociate's Degree | Topeka, KS | $45,751 | $27,876 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Herzing University-BirminghamAssociate's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $45,714 | $31,441 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Herzing University-AtlantaAssociate's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $45,714 | $31,441 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Herzing University-MinneapolisAssociate's Degree | St. Louis Park, MN | $45,714 | $31,441 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Herzing University-AkronAssociate's Degree | Akron, OH | $45,714 | $31,441 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Herzing University-MadisonAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $45,714 | $31,441 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Herzing University-OrlandoAssociate's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $45,714 | $31,441 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Herzing University-New OrleansAssociate's Degree | Metairie, LA | $45,714 | $31,441 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Herzing University-KenoshaAssociate's Degree | Kenosha, WI | $45,714 | $31,441 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Herzing University-BrookfieldAssociate's Degree | Brookfield, WI | $45,714 | $31,441 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | IBMC CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $45,636 | Not available | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | South Puget Sound Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Olympia, WA | $45,368 | Not available | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Kirkwood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cedar Rapids, IA | $45,129 | $25,083 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Northwest Career CollegeAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $45,124 | $19,875 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Madison Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $44,946 | Not available | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $44,915 | Not available | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Blinn College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Brenham, TX | $44,822 | Not available | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | San Jacinto Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, TX | $44,805 | Not available | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Brookdale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lincroft, NJ | $44,721 | Not available | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Harrisburg Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Harrisburg, PA | $43,996 | $13,337 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Lewis and Clark Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Godfrey, IL | $43,909 | Not available | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Florida SouthWestern State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $43,758 | $14,624 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $43,452 | Not available | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | National American University-Rapid CityAssociate's Degree | Rapid City, SD | $43,288 | Not available | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Pima Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $43,049 | Not available | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Richmond, VA | $42,660 | $20,250 | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Community College of Allegheny CountyAssociate's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $42,345 | Not available | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Baton Rouge Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $42,298 | $20,750 | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Erie Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $42,014 | $14,894 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Pikes Peak State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $41,460 | Not available | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Roosevelt UniversityAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $41,138 | $15,986 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Purdue University GlobalAssociate's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $41,127 | $25,974 | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Greenville Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenville, SC | $40,785 | $18,500 | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Stautzenberger College-MaumeeAssociate's Degree | Maumee, OH | $40,593 | Not available | -133% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Stautzenberger College-BrecksvilleAssociate's Degree | Brecksville, OH | $40,593 | Not available | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rockford, IL | $40,593 | Not available | -133% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Baker CollegeAssociate's Degree | Owosso, MI | $40,538 | Not available | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Bryan UniversityAssociate's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $40,435 | $26,380 | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Bryant & Stratton College-AlbanyAssociate's Degree | Albany, NY | $40,003 | $25,524 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse NorthAssociate's Degree | Liverpool, NY | $40,003 | $25,524 | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloAssociate's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $40,003 | $25,524 | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Bryant & Stratton College-GreeceAssociate's Degree | Rochester, NY | $40,003 | $25,524 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Bryant & Stratton College-ParmaAssociate's Degree | Parma, OH | $40,003 | $25,524 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia BeachAssociate's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $40,003 | $25,524 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaAssociate's Degree | Wauwatosa, WI | $40,003 | $25,524 | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Bryant & Stratton College-OnlineAssociate's Degree | Orchard Park, NY | $40,003 | $25,524 | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $39,884 | $14,280 | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | American Public University SystemAssociate's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $39,259 | $26,419 | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Center for Advanced Legal StudiesAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $38,920 | $23,738 | -152% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | West Virginia Junior College-MorgantownAssociate's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $38,815 | $14,096 | -151% | Negative payoff |
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.