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Best Legal Studies Schools Near Sterling, IL (2026)
Sterling, Illinois has 4 accredited schools offering legal studies programs, with tuition ranging from $8,616 to $42,103 per year for indexed programs. Sterling has a population of about 14,670. Median household income is $52,647 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning legal studies-related role is Lawyer at a median $160,800 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Legal Studies Schools to Sterling
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer legal studies programs near Sterling, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Sterling city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois legal studies page.
Legal Studies Wages Near Sterling
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $63,670 |
| Lawyer | $160,800 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $52,790 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Sterling at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,670 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $52,647 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 18.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Sterling-Area Cities With Legal Studies Programs
- Clinton, IA – 28.3 mi away (30,930 pop)
- Freeport, IL – 34.0 mi away (24,717 pop)
- East Moline, IL – 40.6 mi away (21,135 pop)
- Peru, IL – 42.6 mi away (30,795 pop)
- Bettendorf, IA – 43.4 mi away (35,727 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited legal studies schools are near Sterling, IL?
Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering legal studies programs near Sterling. The closest is Judson University in Elgin, IL (74.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Dominican University (96.6 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying legal studies roles in Illinois?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying legal studies-related roles in Illinois are: Lawyer ($160,800), Paralegal and Legal Assistant ($63,670), Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant ($52,790). Wages for Sterling workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Clinton instead of Sterling?
Clinton, IA is 28.3 miles from Sterling and has its own set of local legal studies programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Sterling an affordable place to study legal studies?
Sterling’s median household income of $52,647 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sterling while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Legal Studies Programs
- Is a Legal Studies degree worth it?
- Main Legal Studies degree guide
- Online Legal Studies programs in Illinois
- Legal Studies programs by state
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Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
Data verified: August 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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