Doctoral (Professional)-7% vs national median578 grads tracked
Legal Professions and Studies at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Ranked 33rd of 61 doctoral (professional) programs in Legal Professions and Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$60,837
middle 50%: $44,430 – $84,097
Median · 5 years out
$97,992
middle 50%: $72,025 – $137,983
Median · 10 years out
$137,412
middle 50%: $95,262 – $176,234
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 students in Legal Professions at Penn State earn $61k in year one. Salaries reach $137k after a decade.
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
4.6 yrs
≈ $5,151 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Arizona (The)
$104,035 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$102,299 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$101,993 · 5 yrs out
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
State University of New York at Buffalo
$97,870 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$97,775 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Dickinson Law
$96,073 · 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
Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out