Paralegal

The Associate in Science degree in Paralegal is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is designed for students who wish to pursue a career as a paralegal. Paralegals assist lawyers in providing legal services in a private law firm, corporate law office, or government agency. Paralegals are not permitted to give legal advice or provide legal services directly to the public. The program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the judicial system, relevant bodies of law, and the research and preparation of briefs, pleadings, contracts, and other legal documents.

While most courses in this program run online as well as on campus, the ABA requires that all students take at least 9 credits of legal specialty courses on campus, either in the daytime or evening. See “Limitations on transfer of legal specialty credits” below for a list of legal specialty courses.

The Central Penn paralegal associate degree program is widely known for its academic rigor and enjoys a reputation for excellence within the legal community. With few exceptions, all courses are taught by licensed attorneys, providing graduates of this program with instruction from those who are most academically and experientially qualified. Students also participate in a wide variety of hands-on learning activities, including field trips, a mock trial, guest lectures, and an internship.

Program learning objectives.

• Ability to solve legal research problems and draft well-written memoranda, briefs, and pleadings using print and online legal resources.
• Knowledge of principles, procedures, and terminology within a wide variety of legal practice areas.
• Understanding of the ethical responsibilities of lawyers and paralegals.
• Oral and written communications skills appropriate to the legal profession.
• Ability to draft pleadings, motions, contracts, wills and estate documents, and other documents commonly used in legal practice.
• Demonstration of the proper use and presentation of evidence in civil and criminal matters.
• Preparation for obtaining a position as a paralegal and development of a paralegal career.

To be considered for admission into a degree or professional certificate program, students must be a high school graduate or have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Pennsylvania Home School Diploma or other recognized equivalency diploma. High School Students applying with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher may be considered for regular admission. Students applying with a GPA below a 2.0 in high school or from another college or university, if accepted, will be admitted conditionally. Please submit an application for admission and a copy of high school and/or college transcript(s). Some applicants may be required to attend a personal interview with the Admissions Office.

An admission essay may be deemed optional for all applicants whose GPA meets or exceeds the minimum for acceptance into the desired program. For certificates and degrees in the Schools of Humanities and Business, the minimum GPA for acceptance is 2.0. For most Health Sciences certificates and degrees, unless otherwise specified, the minimum GPA is 2.2.

Courses are offered at a variety of times Monday through Friday. Online classes are also available. Typical courses run for an 11-week term. The College operates on a year-round schedule of quarterly, 11-week terms enabling students to complete their degrees faster, if they choose to go full-time each term.

Tuition and fees. Undergraduate tuition is $525 per credit for all majors. A Student/Technology Fee of $510 per term (5 or more credits) or $315 (4 or fewer credits) is required. A one-time $150 graduation fee applies.

Books and other expenses. Variable expenses per term (estimates): textbooks $350–$450; course material fees approximately $50–$150 per course; personal $150–$250; transportation $150–$300. Uniforms (where required) are estimated at $100–$150.

Housing and meals. Campus housing per term: individual private bedroom $2,205, standard apartment bedroom $1,505, super suite bedroom $1,595, utilities $330. Meal plans per term range from $550 (Block 75) to $1,125 (14 Meal Plan); a $250 housing security deposit is required.

Financial aid. Central Penn College processes grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study through federal, state, private, and institutional sources to help eligible students meet some of those costs, including the Federal Pell Grant, PA State Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Stafford Loans. To apply for all federal and state financial aid programs, students must complete the FAFSA; Central Penn’s Federal School Code for FAFSA is 004890. To receive financial aid a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (4 credits).

Payment options. Tuition and expenses are paid each term approximately three weeks before the term starts. Central Penn has a short-term three-month payment plan through CASHNet that divides the balance of the tuition owed by three payments; there is a $35 non-refundable application fee paid with the first payment. An Employer Reimbursement Tuition Agreement Plan lets students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employer defer payment until the specified dates.

Military benefits. Military benefits accepted include the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) and Tuition Assistance.

Net price calculator. Use Central Penn’s Net Price Calculator at https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/centralpenn for an early estimate of your total annual cost.

Careers you can pursue. Paralegal, Legal Assistant, Law Clerk, Title Examiner, Abstractor and Searcher, Legal Support Worker.

Graduate outcomes. 100% of Paralegal (A.S.) graduates (5 graduates contacted) were employed in their field or continuing their education (One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report for graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, published July 1, 2026).

College-wide outcome. 89.2% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation (graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report published July 1, 2026).