“Report on Paralegal Education Programs in the US”

Very thorough survey [PDF link] of U.S. paralegal programs researched & prepared by LawCrossing:

[snip]

"In an effort to provide future paralegals with the information they need to choose a paralegal education program and to aid higher education administrators in evaluating programs, LawCrossing has compiled statistics on 36 paralegal education programs.

"The majority of paralegal students are career-oriented and outcome-focused. Because most students enrolled in these programs are studying for more practical or immediate reasons than a traditional liberal arts student would have in mind, our report emphasizes job placement [see #9] success rates. Unlike more traditionally academic subjects such as history and philosophy, paralegal studies offers a unique amount of opportunity for clinical work and internships that simulate a real-world work experience. Programs that require student involvement–such as legal workshops, pro bono work, and internships–offer students résumé-building opportunities as an enhancement to the traditional educational experience.

"Also, distance learning has emerged as one of the fastest-growing components of higher education, and many paralegal students are interested in these kinds of programs. Geographical distance from physical campuses, increased opportunities for student-professor interaction, and flexibility in time management have all contributed to make online courses an attractive option to many potential students. Still, many have concerns about how to appropriately balance convenience and quality in choosing a distance or online program."