ProgramsLegal Professions and Studies

    Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies

    CIP22.02

    138 colleges offer Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Colleges offering it
    138
    at its most common level
    Bachelor's earnings
    $61,496
    median, 4 years after
    Bachelor's debt
    $25,000
    median federal loans
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    Colleges offering it, by degree level

    Certificate
    11
    Associate's
    4
    Bachelor's
    14
    Master's
    138
    Post-baccalaureate certificate
    6
    Doctoral
    43
    First professional
    27
    Graduate/professional certificate
    59
    Published colleges reporting the program. College Scorecard field of study, 2025.

    What it covers

    About Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies

    An integrated or undifferentiated program in one or more of the legal research or advanced practice fields.

    Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 22.02.

    Programs in this field

    Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 22.02.

    • Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General
    • Programs for Foreign Lawyers
    • American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence
    • Canadian Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence
    • Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law
    • Comparative Law
    • Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law
    • Health Law
    • International Law and Legal Studies
    • International Business, Trade, and Tax Law
    • Tax Law/Taxation
    • Intellectual Property Law

    By degree level

    Earnings and debt by degree level

    Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.

    Colleges offering Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies and median graduate earnings and debt at each degree level
    Degree levelCollegesMedian earningsMedian debt
    Certificate11Not reportedNot reported
    Associate's4Not reportedNot reported
    Bachelor's14$61,4964 yrs after · 3 colleges$25,0003 colleges
    Master's138$107,5404 yrs after · 39 colleges$56,64540 colleges
    Post-baccalaureate certificate6$103,7974 yrs after · 3 collegesNot reported
    Doctoral43$123,1994 yrs after · 1 collegeNot reported
    First professional27$127,3244 yrs after · 2 colleges$96,2973 colleges
    Graduate/professional certificate59$98,0304 yrs after · 3 colleges$69,8394 colleges

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.

    Bachelor's programs

    Where Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates earn the most

    Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.

    1. 1

      Drexel University

      Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 17 graduates

      $87,416

      debt $27,000

    2. 2James Madison University logo

      James Madison University

      Harrisonburg, VA · Public · 70 graduates

      $61,496

      debt $19,500

    3. 3Winona State University logo

      Winona State University

      Winona, MN · Public · 17 graduates

      $48,808

      debt $25,000

    Careers

    Careers this program leads to

    Occupations linked to Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.

    Career explorer
    • Bright outlook

      Legal

      Lawyers

      Median pay
      $159,670
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Doctoral or professional degree

      • Speaking
      • Active Listening
      • Critical Thinking

    • Education

      Law Teachers, Postsecondary

      Median pay
      $128,500
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Doctoral or professional degree

      • Speaking
      • Active Listening
      • Learning Strategies

    Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.

    Every program in this area

    Questions about Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies

    How many colleges offer Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies?

    Published colleges on CollegesRef report Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies at these degree levels: certificate (11 colleges), associate's (4 colleges), bachelor's (14 colleges), master's (138 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (6 colleges), doctoral (43 colleges), first professional (27 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (59 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).

    What do Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates earn?

    At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies earn $61,496 a year four years after finishing, across 3 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.

    Where do Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates earn the most?

    Drexel University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies: $87,416 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.