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Legal Support Services at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,159/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (77,600 openings/yr)
ROI 9.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #18 of 36 Legal Support Services programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Legal Support Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $501K $500K $467K
Earnings Multiple 9.5x 9.4x 8.8x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$52,976
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,708
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,871
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,083
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $36,159/yr, roughly in line with the $38,382 national median for Legal Support Services. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

A 9.4x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 7% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Legal Support Services career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $24,871 against $36,159/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #18 ranking among 36 Legal Support Services programs places Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 33% earnings increase from $36,159 to $48,083 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 8,116 in Carbondale, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale →

Top Career Paths

Legal support workers, all other $68,760/yr
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners $67,310/yr
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 36 schools offering Legal Support Services →

Legal Support Services at Other Schools

Roger Williams University ($51,445) SUNY College of Technology at Canton ($48,269) Stevenson University ($46,661) Peirce College ($46,406) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($45,549) Indiana University-Indianapolis ($44,070) Minnesota State University Moorhead ($43,585) St Petersburg College ($43,499)

Other Majors at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Fire Protection ($104,017) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($73,283) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($72,495) Computer Science ($70,053) Mechanical Engineering ($69,454) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($69,021) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($68,670) Civil Engineering ($65,269)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Legal Support Services trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 does a 36/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Legal Support Services at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
At 36/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Legal Support Services programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Legal Support Services at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
The 61% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →