Studying law online provides you the flexibility that online study provides students of other courses. However, online bachelor’s and master’s may take longer to study than when you study in a brick and mortar institution. Worse is that currently, no online law school has accreditation by the American Bar Association (ABA). This implies that if you wish to get a Juris Doctor (JD) online, you have no intention of practicing law. However, California state allows you to sit for Bar exams with a non-ABA law school degree. So, the question now is:
Why Study Law Online?
Getting a JD online gives you the chance to effectively shuttle between study, work, and family life. Online law school programs offer you the opportunity to still fulfill your dream even though you can’t physically be at school. Also, many online law schools have accreditation, even though they don’t have ABA backing. What this implies is that you can still get world class law education from these schools that will parallel on-campus ones. Furthermore, not everyone acquires a law degree to practice law. The law profession career cuts into a plethora of fields and industry. The online Master of Laws (LLM) program provides specialized education in areas like health care policy, management, or taxation. Also, some online law school programs like master’s in legal studies programs are for non-lawyers. There’ll always be non-law students and professionals wishing to get some law education. Online law school programs thus provide them an easy means to satisfy this need. Let’s also not forget that you can actually take the California Bar exam with an online law degree. This also restricts your practice to the state of California. So, if you live in California or don’t mind practicing there, then an online Law degree is for you. Check out how to get the University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law Scholarships 2022 to study in Australia.
How Much Can I Earn With an Online Law Degree?
That ABA doesn’t back up online law schools doesn’t make you less a lawyer for getting an online law degree. You are still a lawyer in every aspect and would earn the same as a lawyer with a brick and mortar university degree. You’ll have to practice privately though if you must practice. Law is among the professions that earn a large salary. You are certain of a five to six figure annual salary as a lawyer. Meanwhile, further education may translate to higher pay, and of course, you can always get an LLM online. According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for lawyers in the U.S is $117,188. This figure is the same for healthcare lawyers, which is a career an online law degree prepares you for.
What kind of online law school should I attend?
You should attend one of the cheapest, accredited online law schools. There are other things to look out for, however, asides affordability and accreditation. The online law school you choose to attend should have greater online access to professors. Even though you can study law online, it doesn’t change the fact that the course requires you to put legal knowledge into practical circumstances. You’ll find you need to get in contact with your professor more often than not on the phone. So, check that the professor has office hours where you can call them. Also, ensure that your online law school is practical in as much as it is theoretical. Check their curriculum to see that it satisfies your needs. More important, you should see that the same books students studying on campus are using are the same one your online school is using. In addition, you may have to check out for the duration of the online law school program. Most schools commit a minimum of 20 hours a week to their program. However, expect an online law program to last between three to six years. Meanwhile, we have you covered. The list of schools we’re bringing to you has all your checklist ticked.
Cheapest Online School in 2022
The list of online law school programs in this post is available to associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate degree students. They span across a variety of law-oriented disciplines such as legal office administration, taxation, paralegal studies, and legal studies. Also, they all have regional accreditation, even though they are yet to get the one from ABA. Here are our top 21 online law schools based on affordability.
#21. Colorado State University-Fort Collins – $28,903
This online law school has regional accreditation by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It is also a public, non-profit university. CSU-Fort Collins Offers 78 various programs in other fields of study, however, it offers only one online law school program. This law school program is in pursuit of a certificate degree. The program is a Graduate Certificate in Campus Crisis Management. This accredited online law school has a total student population of 33,413 and an acceptance rate of 78%. Thus, this is also another not so competitive school that students are attending. Meanwhile, CSU-Fort Collins charges $28,903 as undergraduate tuition and $26,430 as graduate tuition. School Website
#20. Capitol Technology University – $24,788
This online law school has regional accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). It is also a private, non-profit university. While this Capitol Technology University offers up to 35 programs in other fields of study, it offers two online law-related programs. One is in pursuit of a Master’s of science degree and the other is an MBA degree. These programs are as follows:
Master of Science in Information and Telecommunications Systems Management – Technology Management Law & Policy Specialization, andMBA – Technology Management Law and Policy.
You can also see our 25 Cheapest Online MBA Programs With No GMAT Exam. In addition to this, This accredited online degree university has a total number of 843 students and an acceptance rate of 88.3%. Its tuition is $24,788 for undergraduates and $11,070 for graduates, however. This makes this school one of the cheapest online law schools for graduates. School Website
#19. Chaminade University of Honolulu – $24,514
This online law school has regional accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission (WASC WSCUC). Also, although it offers up to 36 programs in other fields of study, it offers just a program in Law. This program is in pursuit of a Master’s degree. Chaminade’s only online law degree program is a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration- Generalist. This accredited private, non-profit university has an acceptance rate of 92%, admitting 807 out of 875 total applicants. Also, with a total student population of 2,836 students, you can be certain to gain admission here. Furthermore, Chaminade charges $24,514 for undergraduate students and $20,640 for graduate student. School Website
#18. Georgia State University – $23,971
This online law school has regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS COC). It is also a public, not for profit university. While this school offers a total of 33 programs in other fields of study, it offers only an online law program towards an associate degree. The program is an Associate of Arts in Political Science. Furthermore, the university has a total enrollment of 32,082 and an acceptance rate of 58.8% This speaks of some competition towards admission. Meanwhile, you’ll be paying a tuition of $23,971 as an undergraduate online law student and $24,646 as a graduate student. School Website
#17. Central Washington University – $22,010
This online law school has regional accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Also, the accredited online law school offers over 24 programs in other fields of study and an online bachelor’s degree program in law. This program is a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Justice towards a bachelor’s degree and it is available fully online. Meanwhile, CWU has a total enrollment of 11,500 students and an acceptance rate of 79.7% While it is not so competitive, it is a school that students are applying for. Additionally, CWU’s tuition to study online is $22,010 for undergraduates and $22,421. School Website
#16. Humboldt State University – $19,373
This online law school has regional accreditation by WASC WSCUC and is a public, non-profit university. This accredited school offers up to 10 programs in other fields of study while they offer just an online law school program. Meanwhile, this program is towards a certificate & diploma degree. The online law program is a Certificate in Legal Secretary. Humboldt has a total student population of 7,774 and an acceptance rate of 77.1% However, you’ll pay a tuition of $19,373 as an undergraduate and $18,431 as a graduate online law student. School Website
#15. North Carolina Central University – $19,106
This online law school has regional accreditation by SACS COC and is a public, not for profit college. Although this accredited university offers 29 programs in other disciplines, it offers only one (1) in Law. This online law school program is in pursuit of a master’s degree, however. The program is a Master of Library Science – Law Librarian. Meanwhile, NCCU has a total enrollment of 8,207 students and an acceptance rate of 82.8% This means that for every 100 students, 83 gets admission. Furthermore, this accredited online law school charges $19,106 for undergraduates and $20,365 for graduates towards an online degree. School Website
#14. Eastern Kentucky University – $18,250
This online law school has regional accreditation by SACS COC. It also has national accreditation by Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training is a national accreditation agency (ACCET). Eastern Kentucky offers over 88 programs online and on-campus in various fields of study for all levels of education. However, this accredited online law school offers just an online law program. The program is a Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Science towards an online bachelor’s degree in law. Meanwhile, this university has a total student population of 16,881 and an acceptance rate of 86.3% Also, its tuition fees for undergraduates is $18,250 while for graduates, it is $15,220. This is another of the cheapest online law school you can come across. School Website
#13. Angelo State University – $17,161
This online law school has regional accreditation by SACS COC. The non-profit college offers over 35 programs in other fields but one online law degree program presently. This program is the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (M.S) towards a Master’s Degree. However, this accredited online law school has a total enrollment of 10,447 and an acceptance rate of 74.4%. ASU charges $17,161 as tuition for Undergraduates and $13,977 for graduates, however. School Website
#12. Grand Canyon University – $17,050
This online law school has regional accreditation by HLC and is a member of the North Central Association. Although it offers up to 220 programs towards other degrees, it offers two law online programs. These online law school programs are towards a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree. They are as follows:
BA in Government – Legal Studies, andMS in Criminal Justice – Legal Studies.
You can also see our Top 10 Criminal Justice Scholarships 2020 to support your study. GCU has a total student population of 20,500 students and an acceptance rate of 56.9% This, also, is a fairly competitive school that students are attending. However, you’ll be paying a tuition of $17,050 to obtain an online law degree at GCU. School Website
#11. Albany State University – $16,136
This online law school has regional accreditation by SACS COC. It offers over 46 programs but currently offers just a law program towards a law degree. The program is Certificate in Legal Assistant/Paralegal – Certificate & Diplomas. Meanwhile, this non-profit law school has a total enrollment of 6,371 as well as an acceptance rate of 49.7% This percentage shows that the University is fairly competitive. However, this accredited online law school charges $16,136 as undergraduate tuition and $15,720 as graduate tuition. School Website
#10. Arizona State University – $15,691 – $27,372
This online law school has regional accreditation by HLC and offers more law courses than most of the school on our list. This accredited online law school offers up to 208 programs in diverse fields of study and 7 programs in law. The programs are towards bachelor’s and master’s degree, however. Arizona State online law programs and their degree are as follows:
BA in Philosophy (Morality, Politics, and Law: Bachelor’s DegreeMLS Master of Legal Studies: Master’s DegreeMaster of Legal Studies (MLS) – Criminal Law: Master’s DegreeMLS Master of Legal Studies – HR & Employment Law: Master’s DegreeMaster of Legal Studies (MLS) – Intellectual Property Law: Master’s DegreeMLS Master of Legal Studies – Sports Law & Business: Master’s Degree, andMaster of Legal Studies (MLS) – Sustainability Law: Master’s Degree.
Meanwhile, this accredited online law school has a total student enrollment of 71,946 and an acceptance rate of 82.5%. This shows that not only is the university easy to get, but also it is a student’s favorite, judging from the population. However, Arizona State University’s tuition ranges from $15,691 – $27,372 annually. School Website
#9. Bryan University Online – $15,400 – $15,447
This online law school has national accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). While regional accreditation is more prestigious, the national accreditation is for specialized or vocational schools. Bryan University online offers up to 30 courses in various fields of study but one (1) in law presently. This online law programs are towards an associate’s degree. The online program is Criminal Justice and it prepares you to be a respected member of a law enforcement team. You can as well check out How Long It Takes To Get An Associate Degree in 2020. This accredited online law school has over a thousand students, however, and a student to faculty ratio of 5:1. Meanwhile, Bryan University online charges between $15,400 – $15,447 for tuition to acquire a degree at the university. School Website
#8. California University of Pennsylvania – $15,326
This online law school has regional accreditation by MSCHE. Also, this public, not for profit school offers over 105 online programs across various educational fields but 3 in Law. These online law school programs by California University is in the pursuit of certificates and bachelor’s degree. These accredited online law programs are as follows:
Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence – Land Management: Bachelor’s DegreeBachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence – Legal Studies: Bachelor’s Degree, andCertificate in Law and Public policy: Certificates & Diploma.
Meanwhile, Cal U has a total student population of 7,312 and an acceptance rate of 96.5%. Also, with a tuition of $15,326 for undergraduates and $23,434 for graduates, this is one of the cheapest online law schools on the list. School Website
#7. Argosy University Online – $13,438
This online law school has regional accreditation by WASC WSCUC. Also, this university offers 88 programs in diverse fields of study but two (2) programs in law presently. The online law program of Argosy University is towards a master’s degree in Compliance (ML) Meanwhile, the private, for-profit online law school has a total student enrollment of 17,600 students and an acceptance rate of 80 – 90%. Also, with a tuition fee of $13,438 for undergraduates and $13,656 for graduates, this accredited online law school is one of the cheapest on the list. School Website
#6. Liberty University – $11,700
This online law school has regional accreditation by SACS COC and is a Christian University. While it offers a total of 542 programs in other fields, it currently offers seven (7) online law school programs. These online programs with their degree are as follows:
Paralegal Studies: Associate DegreesLaw & Policy – Pre-Law: Bachelor’s DegreesParalegal Studies: Bachelor’s DegreesJuris Master – American Legal Studies: Master’s DegreesJuris Master – International Legal Studies: Master’s DegreesMaster of Law – International Legal Studies: Master’s DegreesLaw & Public Policy: Master’s Degrees
This accredited university is a large one with a total student population of 110,000. It also has an acceptance rate of 24.4%. This makes the university a competitive one worth enrolling in. However, to study these online law degrees, you’ll have to pay a tuition of $11,700. This is one of the cheapest online law school you’ll find out there. School Website
#5. South Dakota State University – $11,689
This online law school has regional accreditation by HLC and it is a public, non-profit university. This accredited online law school offers up to 60 programs in other disciplines but 1 in law towards a certificate degree. The school’s online law degree program is an Undergraduate Certificate in Agricultural & Environmental Law. Meanwhile, SDSU’s total enrollment is 12,107 and its acceptance rate is 91% This makes the school student’s friendly, especially with a student to faculty ratio of 17:1. In addition, SDSU charges $11,689 for undergraduates and $15,521 for graduates as tuition towards an online degree. This ranks it as one of the cheapest online law schools on our list. School Website
#4. Southern New Hampshire University online – $11,520
This online law school has regional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). This private, non-profit university offers 286 programs across various other disciplines but only one (1) in law. This online program, however, is towards a Bachelor’s degree in law. SNHU’s online law degree program is a BS in Criminal Justice – Legal Studies and Advocacy. Meanwhile, the university has a total student enrollment of 90,955 and an acceptance rate of 92.9% An interesting fact to know here is that the majority of SNHU’s student population are online students. Furthermore, this accredited university charges $11,520 to study its online graduate law program. This ranks it as one of the cheapest online law school on our list. School Website
#3. Bellevue University – $7,752
This online law school has regional accreditation by HLC and offers up to 165 programs. However, the accredited law school presently offers just a program towards a law degree. This is a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies – Bachelor’s Degree. Meanwhile, Bellevue University is one of the cheapest online law schools that also offer top military support. It has a total enrollment of 10,407 students and an acceptance rate of 100%. In addition, Bellevue charges $7,752 as Undergraduate tuition and $10,770 for graduate for an online law degree. School Website Meanwhile, if you are interested in studying law in Germany, check out our Free Tuition: Scholarship to study law in Germany (UPDATED)
#2. Abraham Lincoln University – $7,500
This online law school has regional accreditation by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). It also offers five (5) online programs towards a law degree. These programs and their degree are as follows:
Paralegal Studies (AS): Associate DegreeLegal Studies (BS): Bachelor’s degreeMaster’s of Science in Law (MS): Master’s DegreeJD(Juris Doctor): Doctoral Degree, andDiploma in Paralegal Studies: Certificates.
This accredited online law school has an acceptance rate of 100% and a total enrollment of 2,002 students. In addition, with a tuition of $7,500, this is one of the cheapest online law schools to grab a law degree. School Website
#1. American Public University System – $6,880
This online law school has regional accreditation by HLC and DEAC. While ranking as our number one cheapest online law school, this university offers more than twenty (20) degrees. However, it presently offers five (5) online law programs towards a law degree. These programs and their degree are as follows:
Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies: Associate DegreeBachelor of Science in Legal Studies: Bachelor’s DegreeMaster of Arts in Legal Studies & Master of Public Policy – Public Policy and the Law: Master’s Degree, andCertificate in Paralegal Studies: Certificate & Diploma.
This accredited online law school has an acceptance rate of 100% and a total enrollment of 48,623 students. Meanwhile, APUS provides affordable tuition of $6,880 for undergraduates and $6,600. This gives APUS a high recommendation. School Website
In Conclusion:
Online law schools help you study a law program while juggling work and maybe family. However, the major accreditation body for Law in the United States – American Bar Association (ABA) – does not back up online law degrees. This means that you can’t take an online law degree program if you intend to practice, except in California. This is the only state in the US that presently allows online law degree holders to take Bar exams and practice in the state. Meanwhile, the law career is very broad and it opens you to various job positions across industries with a high salary. Therefore, you can still gain a law degree online and be relevant. Our list of the cheapest online law schools will guide you in studying law online if you decide to take the path.
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