Home Schools Liberty University Legal Studies
Legal Studies · Legal Studies Rank #37 of 37

Legal Studiesat Liberty University

Graduates earn $27,637/yr in their first year — about 30.0% below the national Legal Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $405K; scenarios range from $390K to $400K depending on AI disruption.

Lynchburg, VA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
20 AT RISK
21
Optimistic
28
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,637
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$405K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
37% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Liberty University

This General Legal Studies program at Liberty isn't a direct pipeline to legal professional roles. Its non-professional focus means you're gaining broad knowledge about legal systems, not specific vocational skills like those acquired in a dedicated paralegal program or a pre-law track designed for law school. Given Liberty's broad admission and large student body, this degree often prepares you for general administrative or support roles where a foundational understanding of law is helpful, but not necessarily a primary job requirement.

The local Lynchburg, VA job market for specialized legal support roles is also not as robust as major metropolitan areas, meaning you'll likely compete for a narrower range of positions. To truly leverage this degree in a legal field, you'll almost certainly need to pursue additional certifications, extensive internships, or even graduate studies. Consider what specific legal role you envision and explore pathways that offer more direct vocational training or a clearer path to law school.

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
$390K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score28/100
Earnings Multiple4.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$405K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score20/100
Earnings Multiple4.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$400K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score21/100
Earnings Multiple4.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Liberty 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 Liberty University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Bentley University
MA · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Top score
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
Also at Liberty University

Other top programs at Liberty University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Liberty 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 Liberty University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Legal Studies at Liberty University?

A score of 20/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Legal Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Can you still earn well with Legal Studies from Liberty University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.