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Legal Studiesat Bentley University

Graduates earn $72,883/yr in their first year — about 84.0% above the national Legal Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $663K; scenarios range from $618K to $673K depending on AI disruption.

Waltham, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
43 AVERAGE
44
Optimistic
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$72,883
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.1x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$663K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
37% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Bentley University

Your strong earnings potential from Bentley's Legal Studies program isn't just about the major; it's a testament to the institution's overall reputation and its strategic location. Bentley’s deep roots in business and finance likely infuse this program with a practical, corporate-focused edge, making graduates highly attractive to law firms and in-house legal departments serving the thriving financial, tech, and biotech sectors across Greater Boston. These roles often involve complex corporate transactions, compliance, or intellectual property, demanding a sophisticated understanding that goes beyond general legal knowledge. The university's strong employer connections in this high-demand market create direct pipelines to well-compensated positions, even at the undergraduate level. To maximize your outcome, actively seek internships with corporate legal teams or specialized law firms to build a targeted skill set and network within these lucrative areas.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$618K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$663K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$673K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Bentley University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Legal Studies graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Legal support workers, all other
-1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,700 openings/yr
$68,760/yr
Low
2
Paralegals and legal assistants
+0.2% 10-yr growth · 39,300 openings/yr
$61,010/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Legal Studies

How Bentley University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
64
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
24.8x
ROI
Ohio State University-Main Campus
OH · Public
55
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
11.8x
ROI
University of Miami
FL · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
American Public University System
WV · Private for-profit
54
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
16.9x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
53
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
12.2x
ROI
Also at Bentley University

Other top programs at Bentley University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bentley University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Legal Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Legal Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Legal Studies at Bentley University

How does Bentley University's Legal Studies program score?

This program scores 43/100 — on the lower end for Legal Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.