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What you'll do in college
These majors study the legal framework that governs society, including constitutional law, contracts, torts, and legal writing. Coursework focuses heavily on reading comprehension, logical reasoning, ethics, and argumentation. Programs often include mock trial, moot court, and pre-law advising to prepare students for the LSAT and the rigors of law school.
What you'll do after college
Most graduates use this major as a stepping stone to law school (earning a J.D.) to become practicing attorneys, prosecutors, public defenders, or judges. Others work immediately as paralegals, legal assistants, compliance officers, or policy analysts. Salaries vary widely, with corporate attorneys generally earning significantly more than public interest lawyers or legal support staff.
Famous graduates
- Sonia Sotomayor — Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; B.A. in History (Pre-Law track) from Princeton University, J.D. from Yale Law School
- John Grisham — Best-selling author and former attorney; B.S. in Accounting from Mississippi State University, J.D. from the University of Mississippi
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings
By SAT median
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings
Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 882 | 49,822 | 36% / 64% | 1% | $59,584 | 96% |
| Criminal Justice | 619 | 28,099 | 38% / 62% | 1% | $58,780 | 96% |
| Criminology | 190 | 8,273 | 32% / 68% | 1% | $59,064 | 96% |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 16 | 2,723 | 42% / 58% | 1% | $60,282 | 96% |
| Legal Studies | 104 | 2,308 | 31% / 69% | 3% | $60,075 | 95% |
| Criminology and Criminal Justice | 4 | 1,028 | 37% / 63% | 1% | $59,357 | 95% |
| Forensic Science | 38 | 970 | 19% / 81% | 1% | $59,507 | 98% |
| Forensic Science and Technology | 49 | 957 | 21% / 79% | 1% | $59,217 | 97% |
| Homeland Security | 30 | 442 | 67% / 33% | 0% | $60,372 | 98% |
| Criminology, Law and Society | 1 | 316 | 34% / 66% | 1% | $70,514 | 95% |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 5 | 270 | 40% / 60% | 1% | $69,534 | 97% |
| Pre-Law | 24 | 256 | 39% / 61% | 1% | $59,202 | 96% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2 | 248 | 31% / 69% | 1% | $61,388 | 97% |
| Legal Assistant/Paralegal | 14 | 246 | 23% / 77% | 0% | $59,117 | 95% |
| Justice Studies | 1 | 206 | 42% / 58% | 0% | $63,700 | 97% |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice | 7 | 194 | 18% / 82% | 3% | $62,782 | 96% |
| Criminalistics and Criminal Science | 5 | 187 | 16% / 84% | 1% | $57,055 | 100% |
| Law Enforcement | 4 | 186 | 40% / 60% | 0% | $63,810 | 94% |
| Law & Policy | 1 | 185 | 36% / 64% | 2% | $78,084 | |
| Paralegal Studies | 28 | 174 | 21% / 79% | 0% | $56,907 | 88% |
| Corrections | 10 | 174 | 32% / 68% | 1% | $58,576 | 97% |
| Criminal Justice Sciences | 1 | 150 | 45% / 55% | 1% | $68,428 | 99% |
| Criminology, Law, and Justice | 1 | 121 | 33% / 67% | 2% | $62,153 | 96% |
| Criminal Justice/Safety | 9 | 120 | 32% / 68% | 0% | $59,332 | 97% |
| Legal Professions and Studies | 7 | 119 | 39% / 61% | 1% | $61,298 | 95% |
| Law, Societies, and Justice | 1 | 117 | 20% / 80% | 3% | $63,602 | 94% |
| Advanced Legal Research/Studies | 3 | 106 | 30% / 70% | 3% | $75,500 | 96% |
| Forensic and Investigative Sciences | 1 | 90 | 20% / 80% | 0% | $66,211 | 100% |
| Administration of Justice | 1 | 87 | 13% / 87% | 0% | $63,691 | 98% |
| Law and Behavioral Science | 1 | 85 | 18% / 82% | 2% | $64,559 | 96% |
| Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis | 2 | 76 | 46% / 54% | 0% | $80,952 | 96% |
| Emergency Management and Homeland Security | 1 | 76 | 84% / 16% | 0% | $85,492 | 100% |
| Criminal Justice Administration | 6 | 74 | 43% / 57% | 0% | $65,778 | 97% |
| Criminal Justice and Criminology | 1 | 73 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $50,362 | 94% |
| Police Science | 8 | 71 | 51% / 49% | 1% | $59,000 | 97% |
| Law and Justice | 1 | 69 | 32% / 68% | 0% | $63,736 | |
| Security Management | 6 | 68 | 84% / 16% | 1% | $62,870 | 98% |
| Law | 2 | 66 | 59% / 41% | 0% | $69,293 | 90% |
| Security Studies | 2 | 64 | 58% / 42% | 2% | $60,596 | 96% |
| Forensic Investigation | 1 | 64 | 17% / 83% | 2% | $52,965 | 100% |
| Criminal Justice and Law | 1 | 62 | 53% / 47% | 0% | $56,459 | 97% |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services | 2 | 59 | 51% / 49% | 0% | $75,903 | 99% |
| Corrections Administration | 2 | 54 | 22% / 78% | 0% | $59,358 | 98% |
| National Security Studies | 4 | 52 | 62% / 38% | 0% | $56,456 | |
| Criminal Justice Studies | 2 | 50 | 42% / 58% | 2% | $65,342 | 98% |
| Criminal Justice and Fire Protection | 1 | 50 | 24% / 76% | 0% | $61,937 | 96% |
| Emergency Management | 1 | 45 | 87% / 13% | 0% | $79,004 | 95% |
| Law and Society | 1 | 38 | 39% / 61% | 0% | $76,631 | 97% |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 1 | 38 | 63% / 37% | 3% | $57,720 | 95% |
| Justice | 3 | 31 | 29% / 71% | 0% | $60,945 | 94% |
| Law, History, and Society | 1 | 27 | 37% / 63% | 4% | $78,346 | |
| Law, Letters, and Society | 1 | 27 | 30% / 70% | 4% | $79,129 | |
| Conservation Law Enforcement | 4 | 23 | 83% / 17% | 0% | $56,102 | |
| Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought | 1 | 19 | 47% / 53% | 16% | $66,470 | |
| Applied Legal Studies | 1 | 17 | 82% / 18% | 0% | $55,494 | |
| Homeland Security Studies | 1 | 15 | 67% / 33% | 0% | $67,054 | 92% |
| Criminal Justice - Police | 1 | 12 | 42% / 58% | 0% | $63,181 | 95% |
| Forensic Sciences | 1 | 12 | 17% / 83% | 8% | $57,236 | |
| Crime Intelligence Analysis | 1 | 11 | 45% / 55% | 0% | $52,139 | 96% |
| Legal Studies in Business | 1 | 9 | 44% / 56% | 0% | $81,209 | |
| Pre-Law Studies | 6 | 7 | 29% / 71% | 0% | $56,130 | |
| American/US Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence | 1 | 6 | 67% / 33% | 0% | $62,623 | |
| Security Services Administration | 1 | 6 | 83% / 17% | 0% | $67,759 | |
| Homeland Security and Law Enforcement | 3 | 4 | 75% / 25% | 0% | $64,532 | 100% |
| Juvenile Justice | 1 | 4 | 25% / 75% | 0% | $51,524 | 98% |
| Dispute Resolution | 3 | 3 | 33% / 67% | 0% | $59,165 | |
| Police Studies | 1 | 2 | 100% / 0% | 0% | $54,226 | 93% |
| Criminal Justice and Fire Science | 1 | 1 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $57,596 | 95% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration | 2 | 0 | $61,315 | 98% | ||
| Legal Research | 2 | 0 | $56,356 | |||
| Criminal Justice and Cybersecurity | 1 | 0 | $69,415 | 95% | ||
| Juvenile Corrections | 1 | 0 | $64,291 | 95% | ||
| Legal Professions | 1 | 0 | $56,451 |