Cheapest Legal Support Services Colleges

St Petersburg College makes Legal Support Services education essentially free with a negative net price of $52, meaning students receive more in financial aid than they pay in costs. This remarkable affordability contrasts sharply with programs reaching $12,267 at the higher end, creating a $12,319 cost gap that reflects the wide range of institutional approaches to paralegal training. Texas leads the nation in paralegal employment with over 19,000 positions, making affordable access particularly valuable for students entering this stable field. Earnings data shows graduates can expect salaries between $25,194 and $42,682, with CUNY New York City College of Technology and Texas Woman's University both reporting the highest graduate earnings at $42,682 annually. Public institutions dominate the affordable end of this market, with 14 of the 15 most cost-effective programs operating as state schools. Graduation rates vary considerably from University of Central Florida's 75.1% down to CUNY NYC College of Technology's 19.4%, suggesting that low cost doesn't always correlate with completion success.

Programs

$-52 – $17,816

Net Price Range

$33,044

Avg. Program Earnings

47.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Legal Support Services Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, Florida	$-52	$2,682	37.5%
2	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, New York	$4,783	$7,332	19.4%	81.8%
3	Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Carolina, Puerto Rico	$7,569	$6,920	36.4%
4	University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida	$8,155	$6,360	61.8%	48.0%
5	Utah Valley University Orem, Utah	$8,463	$6,270	40.7%
6	East Central University Ada, Oklahoma	$9,287	$8,032	32.7%	70.1%
7	Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, Kentucky	$9,962	$10,130	49.7%	64.3%
8	Morehead State University Morehead, Kentucky	$10,089	$9,838	47.7%	84.0%
9	Clayton State University Morrow, Georgia	$10,145	$5,068	35.4%	56.3%
10	Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, Florida	$10,319	$6,118	56.0%	74.4%
11	University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida	$10,650	$6,368	75.1%	41.0%
12	University of North Georgia Dahlonega, Georgia	$10,785	$5,009	36.8%	69.6%
13	Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky	$10,916	$11,436	53.7%	97.0%
14	Texas Woman's University Denton, Texas	$10,948	$8,648	44.2%	93.6%
15	University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston, Texas	$11,056	$7,746	50.9%	69.4%
16	Texas A & M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas	$11,268	$10,026	45.9%	86.5%
17	Valdosta State University Valdosta, Georgia	$11,298	$6,007	41.7%	89.5%
18	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
19	Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses Stockton, California	$11,410	$14,760	50.0%
20	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, Indiana	$12,267	$10,110	47.6%
21	Green River College Auburn, Washington	$12,447	$4,580	41.2%
22	The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee	$12,817	$10,144	53.1%	82.7%
23	Lewis-Clark State College Lewiston, Idaho	$12,832	$7,388	44.7%	86.8%
24	Peirce College Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$12,905	$15,060	5.3%
25	Washburn University Topeka, Kansas	$13,046	$9,578	52.6%
26	University of Mississippi University, Mississippi	$13,164	$9,412	68.5%	97.4%
27	Mississippi University for Women Columbus, Mississippi	$13,198	$8,092	37.8%	99.1%
28	University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, Mississippi	$14,224	$9,618	50.6%	98.8%
29	Bay Path University Longmeadow, Massachusetts	$14,590	$37,227	56.9%	75.6%
30	College of Saint Mary Omaha, Nebraska	$14,986	$23,340	59.4%	64.6%
31	SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, New York	$15,001	$8,689	44.1%	94.9%
32	Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, Texas	$15,152	$10,600	51.7%	89.5%
33	Baker College Owosso, Michigan	$15,171	$12,810	31.3%	36.7%
34	Herzing University-Minneapolis St. Louis Park, Minnesota	$15,205	$13,420	73.5%	94.3%
35	Wilmington University New Castle, Delaware	$15,355	$12,330	22.6%
36	Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio	$15,389	$9,622	43.0%
37	National Paralegal College Phoenix, Arizona	$15,524	$7,995	31.9%
38	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770	$22,106	48.1%	85.9%
39	Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati, Ohio	$16,135	$36,650	54.7%	54.4%
40	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, Illinois	$16,177	$13,244	56.3%	91.5%
41	Avila University Kansas City, Missouri	$16,939	$38,672	42.6%	67.6%
42	Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan	$17,084	$15,510	45.5%	83.2%
43	Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan	$17,096	$14,628	68.6%	90.4%
44	Siena Heights University Adrian, Michigan	$17,185	$29,778	51.1%	65.0%
45	Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho	$17,324	$8,356	38.3%
46	University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio	$17,460	$12,377	55.6%	92.2%
47	Northern Michigan University Marquette, Michigan	$17,485	$13,304	50.8%	70.6%
48	Herzing University-Kenosha Kenosha, Wisconsin	$17,613	$13,420	50.0%	93.5%
49	Madonna University Livonia, Michigan	$17,815	$27,360	58.1%	64.8%
50	Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota	$17,816	$10,336	54.6%	56.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes St Petersburg College's Legal Support Services program cost negative $52?

St Petersburg College provides more financial aid than the total cost of attendance, resulting in students actually receiving money back. The college's in-state tuition sits at just $2,682 annually, while generous federal and state aid packages exceed this amount. This creates an unusual situation where motivated students can pursue paralegal training while building savings. However, the program's 37.5% graduation rate suggests students should carefully consider their commitment level before enrolling.

How do earnings compare between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

The data reveals no direct correlation between program cost and graduate earnings in Legal Support Services. St Petersburg College graduates earn $36,132 despite the negative net cost, while University of Central Florida charges $10,650 but graduates earn only $25,194. CUNY New York City College of Technology and Texas Woman's University both produce graduates earning $42,682 annually. This suggests that location and regional job markets matter more than tuition prices for salary outcomes.

Is there a significant difference in graduation rates among affordable programs?

Graduation rates span from 19.4% to 75.1% among these affordable Legal Support Services programs, showing dramatic variation. University of Central Florida leads with 75.1% completion despite charging $10,650 net cost. CUNY New York City College of Technology struggles with only 19.4% graduation rate despite strong earnings potential. Most programs cluster between 35% and 55% graduation rates, suggesting that institutional support systems vary widely even among similarly priced options.

Does geographic location affect both costs and career prospects for paralegals?

Geographic patterns emerge clearly in both pricing and earnings for Legal Support Services programs. Texas and Florida schools dominate the affordable options, reflecting strong state funding for community colleges and universities. New York's CUNY system offers moderate costs at $4,783 but delivers the highest graduate earnings at $42,682, reflecting the metropolitan legal market. Southern states generally provide lower net costs, with Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma schools clustering under $10,500 annually.

What debt levels can students expect from these affordable programs?

Student debt among affordable Legal Support Services programs ranges from $17,325 to $28,842 for those reporting data. University of Houston-Clear Lake graduates carry the lowest debt at $17,325 while earning $38,337 annually, creating favorable debt-to-income ratios. Clayton State University students face higher debt at $28,842 but also earn $36,668 upon graduation. Many programs don't report debt data, but the available figures suggest most graduates can manage payments on typical paralegal salaries.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.