Legal Support Services at Plaza College

Forest Hills, NY · Private for-profit · Associate Degree

Admission to Plaza College is competitive, with 30% of applicants accepted, with a smaller student body of 829 in Forest Hills, NY.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,454 place Plaza College below the $36,991 national median for Legal Support Services — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 10.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Legal Support Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Legal Support Services's career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $29,454 far exceeding the $9,976 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #125 of 127 Legal Support Services programs, Plaza College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

There are 2 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Legal Support Services, including Legal Secretary (median $54,140/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

35 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
29
Low End
35
Score
38
High End
Earnings $29,454/yr (-20% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (39% shielded)
Job Market Large (77,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$338K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
10.9x
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
$30,900
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,976
4.1 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 Plaza College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Legal Support Services at Plaza College?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Legal Support Services. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Legal Support Services to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Legal Support Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 61% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
Can you still earn well with Legal Support Services from Plaza College?
Lower starting pay at Plaza College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Legal Support Services graduates?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Legal Support Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Legal Support Services workers?
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 →