Doctoral (Professional)+14% vs national median3,389 grads tracked
Legal Professions and Studies at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Ranked 10th of 61 doctoral (professional) programs in Legal Professions and Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$81,633
middle 50%: $57,204 – $146,667
Median · 5 years out
$120,157
middle 50%: $80,666 – $188,730
Median · 10 years out
$142,476
middle 50%: $93,078 – $222,019
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Legal Professions and Studies (doctoral (professional)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Legal professionals from UNC-Chapel Hill start with $82k median salaries. Earnings increase to $120k after five years and $142k after ten years.
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
3.6 yrs
≈ $3,936 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Houston
$145,471 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$124,141 · 5 yrs out
Washington and Lee University
$120,727 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$120,045 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$116,612 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$115,996 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$115,790 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$112,514 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$214,723 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$192,150 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$178,780 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$167,515 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,181 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,648 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$147,757 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$140,602 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$127,840 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$125,175 · 5 yrs out
Journalism (Bachelor's)
$124,373 · 5 yrs out
Library Science (Doctorate)
$121,393 · 5 yrs out