Legal Support Services at South University-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,900/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (77,600 openings/yr)
ROI 6.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #33 of 36 Legal Support Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Legal Support Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $487K $488K $458K
Earnings Multiple 6.7x 6.7x 6.3x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$72,952
Median Debt at Graduation
$44,464
14.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,159
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $36,900/yr, roughly in line with the $38,382 national median for Legal Support Services. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 6.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Legal Support Services's typical career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $44,464 against $36,900/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.2 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #33 of 36 Legal Support Services programs, South University-Columbia falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $36,900 to $46,159 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About South University-Columbia

a smaller institution with 445 students in Columbia, SC. Pell Grant recipients make up 58% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at South University-Columbia →

Top Career Paths

Legal support workers, all other $68,760/yr
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners $67,310/yr
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Legal Support Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at South University-Columbia

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Legal Support Services at South University-Columbia?
A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Legal Support Services. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Legal Support Services at South University-Columbia worth the student debt?
Median debt of $44,464 against $36,900/yr starting salary means roughly 1.2 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Legal Support Services careers?
With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $457,934 in decade earnings vs $486,723 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →