Doctoral (Professional)-9% vs national median1,193 grads tracked
Legal Professions and Studies at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Dickinson Law
Ranked 36th of 61 doctoral (professional) programs in Legal Professions and Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$66,006
middle 50%: $51,099 – $88,336
Median · 5 years out
$96,073
middle 50%: $70,825 – $136,234
Median · 10 years out
$123,749
middle 50%: $87,358 – $177,087
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
Professional doctorate graduates in legal studies see a first-year median salary of $66k. Ten-year earnings average $124k.
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
4.4 yrs
≈ $4,914 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Oklahoma
$101,158 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$99,491 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$98,184 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$97,992 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$97,870 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$97,775 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$94,920 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$94,295 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$93,572 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$93,480 · 5 yrs out
University of the District of Columbia
$93,251 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$92,900 · 5 yrs out