Paralegal Studies · Iowa
Paralegal Studies colleges in Iowa
CampusPin lists 41 U.S. colleges in Iowa that offer Paralegal Studies programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.
Paralegal Studies trains graduates to support attorneys with legal research, drafting, and case management, suiting detail-oriented students drawn to law without attending law school.
Schools in Iowa that offer Paralegal Studies
Allen College
Waterloo, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$20,444
Acceptance
54%
Enrollment
489
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$35,534
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
829
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$40,190
Acceptance
72%
Enrollment
1,887
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$52,576
Acceptance
71%
Enrollment
1,246
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,550
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
10,406
Divine Word College
Epworth, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$15,000
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
61
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$35,960
Acceptance
71%
Enrollment
1,781
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$49,944
Acceptance
64%
Enrollment
4,471
Eastern Iowa Community College District
Davenport, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$4,680
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
3,244
Ellsworth Community College
Iowa Falls, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,304
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
540
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$33,220
Acceptance
83%
Enrollment
1,194
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$33,450
Acceptance
98%
Enrollment
1,785
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$64,862
Acceptance
13%
Enrollment
1,705
Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,308
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
2,528
Indian Hills Community College
Ottumwa, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$4,872
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,635
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,376
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
3,107
Iowa Lakes Community College
Estherville, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$7,196
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
995
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · University · Public
Tuition
$10,497
Acceptance
89%
Enrollment
29,878
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,780
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
3,029
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,980
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
7,438
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$38,298
Acceptance
92%
Enrollment
1,170
Maharishi International University
Fairfield, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$16,530
Acceptance
97%
Enrollment
2,663
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$17,328
Acceptance
99%
Enrollment
907
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$38,190
Acceptance
71%
Enrollment
2,147
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$39,070
Acceptance
79%
Enrollment
1,401
North Iowa Area Community College
Mason City, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,436
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,271
Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,600
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,736
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$18,475
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
464
Orion Technical College
Davenport, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$15,600
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
73
Ross College-Davenport
Davenport, IA · Community College · Private
Tuition
$23,529
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
40
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$35,598
Acceptance
73%
Enrollment
2,690
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$46,212
Acceptance
89%
Enrollment
1,153
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$2,600
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
821
Southwestern Community College
Creston, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,806
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,304
St Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$20,940
Acceptance
44%
Enrollment
192
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$40,065
Acceptance
87%
Enrollment
1,791
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · University · Public
Tuition
$9,728
Acceptance
94%
Enrollment
8,878
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$19,000
Acceptance
93%
Enrollment
2,619
Waldorf University
Forest City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$25,220
Acceptance
73%
Enrollment
2,564
Wartburg Theological Seminary
Dubuque, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$23,529
Acceptance
74%
Enrollment
6,134
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,042
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
2,589
Paralegal Studies programs in Iowa: by the numbers
A quick comparison of the 41 schools listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.
Schools listed
41
Public / private
16 / 25
Universities / 2-year
26 / 15
Cities represented
28
In-state tuition range
$2,600–$64,862
Median in-state tuition
$18,475
Lowest published in-state tuition
Southeastern Community College
$2,600
Most selective
Grinnell College
13% acceptance
Largest by enrollment
Iowa State University
29,878 students
Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.
What you'll study in a Paralegal Studies program
- Legal research using Westlaw, LexisNexis, and primary sources
- Legal writing: memos, briefs, pleadings, and correspondence
- Civil litigation procedure and the stages of a lawsuit
- Substantive law: contracts, torts, property, and criminal law
- Legal ethics and the unauthorized-practice-of-law boundary
- Case management, document review, and e-discovery software
- Client interviewing, fact investigation, and evidence gathering
- Specialized practice areas such as litigation, corporate, real estate, or family law
Where a Paralegal Studies degree can lead
- Paralegals and legal assistants
- Litigation Paralegal
- Corporate Paralegal
- Legal Assistant
- Contract Administrator
- Compliance Specialist
Typical pay: BLS, 2024 paralegals and legal assistants median $61,010
A Paralegal Studies major covers legal research and writing, civil litigation and procedure, contract law, torts, legal ethics, and the use of case-management and e-discovery software. Programs are offered as both bachelor's degrees and shorter associate's or certificate tracks, and most include hands-on training in drafting pleadings, summarizing depositions, organizing case files, and interviewing clients under attorney supervision. Many bachelor's programs add concentrations such as litigation, corporate, real estate, or family law, and often require an internship at a law firm, court, corporate legal department, or government agency.
Paralegals (also called legal assistants) perform substantive legal work under the direction of a licensed attorney but cannot give legal advice or represent clients in court. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for the occupation, so a four-year Paralegal Studies degree is more than the minimum credential and can support advancement into senior or specialized paralegal roles; those who later decide to practice law independently must complete a separate law degree (JD) and pass a state bar exam.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 0.2% from 2024 to 2034, and the occupation had a 2024 median annual wage of $61,010.
Paralegal Studies in other states
Find more Paralegal Studies schools
Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 41+ Paralegal Studies programs in Iowa by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.