CANTON — SUNY Canton's legal studies program was included in a top 10 best value list for online bachelor's degrees in paralegal studies.

The Online Paralegal Degree Center created the ranking using out-of-state tuition, 20-year return on investment, and graduation rate. SUNY Canton has the lowest tuition of the colleges to make the list.

"Our degree program in Legal Studies is a tremendous value and prepares students with excellent career mobility," said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. "Beyond having such a high online ranking, it is one of our more popular online programs available and is taught by faculty with exceptional professional credentials."

The median pay for paralegals, or legal assistants, is $51,740 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 337,800 jobs in the field during 2019 and careers are expected to grow by 10% through 2029, or much faster than average. Graduates of the program have worked in law firms, corporations, hospitals, and local, state, and federal government offices.

The college has an agreement allowing students to earn a bachelor of science in legal studies and a juris doctorate from the University at Buffalo School of Law in six years. The streamlined path cuts a full year off of the education necessary to become a lawyer.