Legal Support Services at Hillsborough Community College

Tampa, FL · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 19,998 in Tampa, FL.

Program Analysis

Hillsborough Community College's Legal Support Services graduates start at $39,517/yr — above the $36,991 national average, though not by a wide margin.

With a 87.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Legal Support Services career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,826 in median debt clears fast against $39,517 in annual earnings.

Hillsborough Community College ranks #20 among 127 Legal Support Services programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

For students considering alternatives, 2 registered apprenticeship programs align with Legal Support Services careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

59 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
59
Score
63
High End
Earnings $39,517/yr (7% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (39% shielded)
Job Market Large (77,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$453K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
90.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$5,012
Out-of-state: $18,222
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,826
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Legal Support Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Legal support workers, all other $68,760 -1.2% 100%
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners $67,310 -0.3% 4%
Paralegals and legal assistants $61,010 +0.2% 48%
Legal support workers, all other
$68,760
-1.2% growth 100% AI-proof
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
$67,310
-0.3% growth 4% AI-proof
Paralegals and legal assistants
$61,010
+0.2% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Legal Support Services Careers

Your work will be at the heart of the legal process. As a paralegal, you’ll spend your days in a law office, drafting motions, organizing evidence for trial, and using research databases to find case-critical information. You might also work as a legal assistant, managing an attorney's busy calendar, electronically filing documents with the court, and serving as the primary point of contact for clients during stressful times.

Read the full Legal Support Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Legal Support Services Overview

Legal Support Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Hillsborough Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 59/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Legal Support Services at Hillsborough Community College?
This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Legal Support Services graduates.
Should I worry about AI if I study Legal Support Services?
With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $413,435 in decade earnings vs $453,019 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Hillsborough Community College one of the best schools for Legal Support Services?
Ranked #20 of 127 programs nationally, Hillsborough Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Legal Support Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 2 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Legal Support Services career paths, including Legal Secretary. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Legal Support Services graduates?
The career paths mapped to Legal Support Services have roughly 77,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →