Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at American University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,790/yr (16% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (26% exposed)
Job Market Large (44,000 openings/yr)
ROI 4.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #11 of 37 Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $921K $898K $826K
Earnings Multiple 4.1x 4.0x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 50% 44%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 49

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$226,172
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$167,780
26% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,375
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$101,273
121% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,790/yr, edging above the $39,560 national average for Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 4.0x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)'s typical career paths, with 26% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,375 represents roughly 6 months of the $45,790 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #11 of 37 Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) programs, American University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $101,273 show a 121% jump from the $45,790 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About American University

With a 47% acceptance rate, American University is moderately selective, serving 7,593 students in Washington, DC.

See all programs and financial aid at American University →

Top Career Paths

Legal support workers, all other $68,760/yr
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010/yr
View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at Other Schools

Other Majors at American University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at American University?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate). Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →