Doctoral (Professional)-22% vs national median1,391 grads tracked
Law at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 55th of 61 doctoral (professional) programs in Law by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$59,440
middle 50%: $45,154 – $72,548
Median · 5 years out
$82,932
middle 50%: $67,797 – $106,442
Median · 10 years out
$100,375
middle 50%: $75,763 – $139,480
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Law (doctoral (professional)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Law graduates from Northern Illinois University report a first-year median salary of $59k. Earnings reach a median of $100k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
5 yrs
≈ $5,575 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Montana (The)
$86,391 · 5 yrs out
Regent University
$83,869 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$83,626 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$83,292 · 5 yrs out
University of South Dakota
$83,134 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Maine
$82,959 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$81,945 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Central University
$79,620 · 5 yrs out
Valparaiso University
$79,389 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical Colg at Baton Rouge
$73,066 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out