Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates from American University earn $96,768 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $65,926.
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies at American University
Washington, District of Columbia • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies at American University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for American University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies at the master's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 128 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at American University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $96,768 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $101,124 across all institutions offering Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at American University, the mean median-earnings figure is $75,532, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates at American University is $65,926, which translates to roughly $549 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University | $213,539 | — |
| Georgetown University | $171,631 | $97,008 |
| Boston University | $156,087 | $61,150 |
| University of San Diego | $148,235 | $135,168 |
| University of Florida | $142,291 | $37,402 |
| Loyola Marymount University | $140,519 | $72,352 |
| University of San Francisco | $136,623 | — |
| Seton Hall University | $131,892 | $47,995 |
| Golden Gate University | $131,366 | $95,568 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $130,948 | — |
Other Programs at American University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $134,332 | $22,625 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $127,356 | $51,250 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $127,269 | $89,433 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $119,020 | — |
| Computer Science | $117,293 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | $112,384 | — |
| Law | $109,523 | $161,696 |
| Public Administration | $107,866 | $55,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $104,878 | $26,500 |
| Economics | $103,169 | $46,108 |
Other Schools with Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.