collageAnyone who wants to practice law must earn a Juris Doctorate (JD), and then take and pass the Bar Exam. This test is difficult, and the effort required to do well is substantial, but the rewards are limitless and long-term. The American Bar Association ensures a baseline quality standard of legal education within the United States by accrediting all law schools in the country. For those pursuing a law degree or certification, there are a wide variety of ABA-accredited law schools available to attend. For those with busy schedules and commitments outside of their education, earning a convenient online form of your Juris Doctorate is the best route to take.
Earning this virtual degree is an excellent choice for students who aspire to practice law. Unfortunately, however, California is the only state that allows online law school graduates to take the Bar exam. Once they pass, they are licensed to practice law anywhere within California. If you do not plan to practice law in California, you will need to attend a brick-and-mortar law school on-location, as has historically been required.
The undergraduate work required to complete the Juris Doctorate can still be done wholly online, however, and there are plenty of options available.
Online law degrees are available from several sources. Some are less expensive than others, and EdSmart’s evaluation will guide you in finding the least expensive options. However, it is still up to you to make the right lifestyle choices during college to keep yourself out of debt. Low-cost college experiences are the result of careful planning, good grades, deciding what “luxuries” you will go without, learning which grants are available in your state, and consistently applying for scholarships for which you may qualify.
Ranking Methodology
The Best Affordable Online Law Schools ranking is based on four main data points in four categories:
- Affordability (net price)
- Student Satisfaction (retention rate)
- Academic Quality (4-year graduation rate)
- Student Outcome (20-year Return on Investment according to Payscale.com)
Each data point is ranked with equal weight. Schools received a weighted overall ranking score for each individual point mentioned above–100 being the highest score possible.
In the case of a tie in scoring, the average net price was the determining factor for which school received the higher rank–the lower the net price, the higher the ranking.
All data was gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics, College Scorecard, Payscale, and individual school websites.
Best Accredited Online Law Schools
1. Washington University in St. Louis
Score: 100
Average Net Price: $28,540
Retention Rate: 96%
Graduation Rate: 93%
ROI: $617,000
Washington University in St. Louis’s Law School has been helping students achieve world-class careers since its founding in 1867. The institution is recognized nationally for its high-quality legal reasoning and practice preparation programs. WashU’s J.D. degree places emphasis in twelve different areas, such as constitutional law & civil rights, criminal justice, or labor & employment law. For additional, topic-specific education, J.D. students can earn specialized certifications or take elective courses. The system also supports online master’s degrees in legal studies, laws in taxation, and U.S. law, even offering a dual-master of laws in U.S. and transnational legal practice. Classes function in an interactive, live-feed format that enables students to collaborate weekly with professors and fellow students.
WUSTL currently enrolls over 15,000 students, most of whom are working on completing their degrees from 100 different countries throughout the world. Out-of-state students make up 90% of the student population, and 80% pursue multiple majors and minors. Basic undergraduate tuition sits at around $54,000 per year. Niche.com awards Washington University in St. Louis an overall grade rating of ‘A+’ and, according to the U.S. News and World Report, the school sits at #19 among the best colleges in the country.
2. Emory University
Score: 98.5
Average Net Price: $26,760
Retention Rate: 94%
Graduation Rate: 91%
ROI: $605,000
Emory University takes part in an upstanding tradition of pursuing prominent research and maintaining educational excellence. It is one of the most well-known private higher education institutions in the country. Currently, the school enrolls only 864 students in total, and tuition costs average around $47,954 annually. Emory provides a limited array of online programs for students pursuing certificates, masters’, or doctoral degrees, but these virtual programs are some of the most prestigious in the nation. Specifically, the Juris Master (JM) program offers an 18-month track for health care law, policy and regulation, and business law and regulation. Courses are taught by a faculty of researchers and world-renowned law practitioners, meaning that students can collaborate with field professionals and market themselves enough to land highly sought-after positions in the law field post-graduation.
According to the U.S. News and World Report, Emory sits at #21 among national universities. Its School of Law ranks at #26 among the best law schools in the country. Money magazine ranks the institution at #3 on a list of best universities for transfer students. Ultimately, Emory is a highly distinguished establishment of post-secondary education where students come to thrive and build their futures.
3. University of Southern California
Score: 98.5
Average Net Price: $30,232
Retention Rate: 96%
Graduation Rate: 92%
ROI: $608,000
The University of Southern California is a private institution based in Los Angeles that has operated as a leading post-secondary educational institution since its 1880 founding. Today, it is home to over 48,500 students and 27,652 faculty and staff. One-quarter of the students are international, which makes the globally-operated Gould School of Law a naturally popular program. Through this format, students can pursue a master’s of law degree (LLM) while finding global networking opportunities with over 10,000 USC law school alumni from across the world. At USC, students who want to get a head start on their path to success within the legal field have every opportunity at their feet.
The Gould School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Institution, and U.S. News and World Report ranks it at #17 among the best law schools in the country. Tuition for the online program sits at just over $53,800 per semester. As an institution, USC earns accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, sitting at #22 among national universities on U.S. News’ list of best colleges in the U.S. It also holds its place at #5 among best colleges for veterans and #56 for best undergraduate teaching. According to Niche.com, the university earned an overall grade rating of ‘A+’. Ultimately, the University of Southern California is one of the best prospects for aspiring learners who want to establish strong foundations and create their own success.
4. Wake Forest University
Score: 97.3
Average Net Price: $33,382
Retention Rate: 95%
Graduation Rate: 88%
ROI: $638,000
Wake Forest University is one of the top-tier post-secondary educational institutions in the U.S. With tuition averaging around $46,409 per year, the university’s accompanying School of Law enrolls only 496 students in total. These individuals have the freedom to combine their undergraduate and J.D. studies into an individualized dual degree program. The online certificates and degree programs use Canvas as both a learning and a teaching medium. Wake Forest awards online MSL master’s degrees in business law & compliance, health law & policy, and human resources. These programs enable aspiring law students to gain firsthand experience in their chosen fields and specializations, giving them a leg up in the competition for post-graduation careers.
The U.S. News and World Report ranks the Wake Forest School of Law at #31 among best law schools in the U.S. Overall, the university ranks among the top 30 schools in the nation, currently sitting at #27 among national universities, #23 in best undergraduate teaching, and #25 among best value schools. Niche.com awards the university an overall grade rating of ‘A+’ for its students’ outstanding academic achievements and top-of-the-line degree programs.
5. Villanova University
Score: 96.5
Average Net Price: $41,849
Retention Rate: 95%
Graduation Rate: 90%
ROI: $699,000
Founded in 1842 as the only Augustinian Catholic university in the country, Philadelphia’s Villanova University is comprised of six schools of study that offer over 100 different bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The school also awards doctoral degrees and has one of the highest-rated law schools in the country. The Charles Widger School of Law maintains a total enrollment of just 565 students, with a tuition averaging around $46,535 annually. Through its convenient online format, students can pursue a master’s in taxation degree or even earn their certification in employee benefits, estate planning, and state and local taxation. These widely-renowned virtual opportunities set Villanova apart from other online schools, and provide distance learners with all of the same opportunities they would have had access to on campus.
The U.S. News and World Report ranks the Charles Widger School of Law at #71 among the best law schools in the country. Niche.com awards Villanova with an overall grade rating of ‘A+’ for its high-quality programs. On U.S. News and World Report’s list of best college rankings, the school sits at #46 among national universities, #49 among best undergraduate teaching, and #54 in best value schools. Overall, Villanova University aims to enrich the lives of its students by making every opportunity accessible to them and equipping them with the skills necessary to become successful in their legal careers.
6. Florida State University
Score: 95.5
Average Net Price: $14,582
Retention Rate: 93%
Graduation Rate: 81%
ROI: $336,000
Florida State University is one of the most sought-after schools in the nation, ranked at #3 among best-value public colleges for out-of-state students by Kiplinger. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council on Social Work Education. According to U.S. News and World Report, it is the #1 school in the state of Florida. Among national universities, it sits at #57, placing #30 among best colleges for veterans, and standing at #114 among best value schools.
The College of Law at Florida State supports just 547 students in total, boasting some of the lowest law school tuition rates in the country. The U.S. News and World Report ranks it at #48 among best law schools in the nation. Its online Juris Master program enables off-site students to pursue masters’ degrees in law, with concentrations in fields like financial regulation and compliance, legal risk management and HR compliance, and even health care regulation. This program requires students to fulfill 30 credit hours of part-time schooling, during which they acquire valuable skills that will aid them throughout their future careers. Florida State University aims to promote the advancement of lifelong learning, instilling within its students an invaluable work ethic and a drive for success that they will take with them into every endeavor of their lives.
7. Michigan State University
Score: 95.5
Average Net Price: $18,576
Retention Rate: 91%
Graduation Rate: 80%
ROI: $463,000
Michigan State University has been in operation since 1885 and has been broadening its students’ horizons for over 160 years. Today, the innovative institution offers an online food law degree that learners can take advantage of from anywhere in the world. This track runs through the Desire2Learn system. Students complete modules, readings, discussion boards, and have full access to instructors’ lectures through this virtual arrangement, all from the comfort of their own homes. Law students can earn their master of laws (LLM) or their master of jurisprudence (MJ) through the online food law track, during which they also collaborate with field professionals like patent lawyers, VPs, directors, and analysts. Overall, the online food law program at MSU opens up countless doors to new opportunities for its aspiring legal students.
Michigan State is the #2 postsecondary educational institution in the state. The school prides itself on its outstanding research programs and award-winning faculty and staff. According to the U.S. News and World Report, it ranks #84 among national universities. The Wall Street Journal places the institution at #81 on a list of more than 800 national colleges and universities. Overall, the university is a well-established and widely-renowned institution of higher learning that prioritizes its students and equips them with the skills necessary to be successful in their future careers and throughout their lives.
8. Boston University
Score: 94.0
Average Net Price: $37,065
Retention Rate: 93%
Graduation Rate: 85%
ROI: $559,000
Founded in 1839 in the very heart of Beantown itself, Boston University is a private, non-profit institution that hosts nearly 35,000 students participating in over 300 various programs of study. BU is well known for its celebrity alumni, which include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Geena Davis, Howard Stern, and Tipper Gore. Besides its many claims to fame, however, the school is widely-renowned for its excellent academic programs and award-winning faculty and staff. Niche.com awards the school an overall grade rating of ‘A+’, and the U.S. News and World Report ranks it at #40 among national universities.
According to U.S. News and World Report, Boston’s law program sits at #23 among the best law schools in the country. With its LLM Graduate Tax Program (GTP), BU provides the means through which students can earn their master’s in taxation degrees on campus, online, or through a convenient combination of both. Earning the LLM credential is very impressive to future employers, and BU alumni often find jobs at law firms within the first year after graduating. Overall, Boston’s is among the top seven LLM programs in U.S. law from colleges all over the country. The institution is one of deep-seated national esteem and academic rigor, pushing toward the future while upholding its long-standing creed: Learning, Virtue, Piety.
9. George Washington University
Score: 93.8
Average Net Price: $31,956
Retention Rate: 91%
Graduation Rate: 82%
ROI: $576,000
George Washington University is a private institution located at the heart of the nation’s capital. It operates one of the best law schools in the country, currently enrolling over 1,600 students in its legal program–for whom tuition sits at around $60,790 annually. The U.S. News and World Report places the university’s law institution at #22 among the best law schools in the country, and Niche.com awards the institution with an overall grade rating of ‘A’ for its esteemable programs and widely-renowned scholastic pursuits.
George Washington’s online law school offers a healthcare corporate compliance graduate certificate and a paralegal studies graduate certificate to online students. It also awards master’s degrees in both professional studies in law firm management and paralegal studies, both of which can be completed in as little as eighteen months. Because GWU is committed to opening up doors for all of its attendees, online law students have every opportunity to pursue successful careers in their chosen fields, all from the convenience of their own homes.
10. New York University
Score: 93.8
Average Net Price: $40,336
Retention Rate: 93%
Graduation Rate: 84%
ROI: $589,000
With campuses located in both Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, New York University is an extensive globalized institution. Tuition and fees cost $66,422 per year. NYU’s school of law is one of wide renown, and its online format offers students the chance to earn an executive LLM in tax or even an MSL in taxation. The online master’s degree program, specifically, equips future accountants and other types of financial professionals with invaluable skills required in those fields. Ultimately, the school strives to promote academic excellence and cultivate a strong work ethic within its students, equipping them with skills necessary to become successful in the legal field.
In terms of legal specialties, NYU places #1 for its international law courses, #3 among intellectual property law courses in the U.S., and #5 for its clinical training programs. According to Niche.com, the school earned an overall grade rating of ‘A+’, and, according to the U.S. News and World Report, it sits at #6 among the best law schools in the country, as well as #29 among national universities.
11. Arizona State University-Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Score: 93.5
Average Net Price: $11,163
Retention Rate: 86%
Graduation Rate: 66%
ROI: $451,000
Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law enrolls a total of just 779 full-time students. The law school involves a 30-credit hour, year-long, online MLS program, which is especially convenient for students with commitments outside of school. Students can focus their legal studies in one of eight different concentrations: conflict resolution, construction law, corporate and health care compliance, criminal law, H.R. and employment law, intellectual property law, law, and sustainability, or sports law and business. These programs provide students with the skills necessary to find success in the legal field.
For its online programs, ASU sits at #2 in best online bachelor’s programs and #6 among best online MBA programs in the country. According to the U.S. News and World Report, it sits at #27 among best law schools, and Times Higher Education places it in the top one percent of the world’s most prestigious universities, as well as among the top 100 universities in the world for research and teaching. The Institute of International Education also considers Arizona State the number one university choice for international students.
12. University of Tulsa
Score: 93.0
Average Net Price: $23,948
Retention Rate: 89%
Graduation Rate: 70%
ROI: $468,000
Since 1929, the Higher Learning Commission has accredited the University of Tulsa, alongside the American Bar Association, which also certifies the institution’s College of Law. The law school currently enrolls just 255 students, whose tuition sits at around $25,254 annually. The college has a program available for students to complete their J.D. within six years, and they can also complete the online master of jurisprudence in approximately 18-24 months or even specialize in Indian law.
According to Niche.com, the University of Tulsa earns an overall grade rating of ‘A’, with the U.S. News and World Report ranking it at #121 among national universities and #57 in best value schools. UT’s College of Law sits at #87 in best law schools. Ultimately, the University of Tulsa aims to equip its students with the tools necessary to become successful in the field of law.
13. University of Arizona
Score: 90.5
Average Net Price: $14,821
Retention Rate: 82%
Graduation Rate: 62%
Salary After Attending: $455,000
The University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law holds several accreditations from the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools. The U.S. News and World Report ranks it at #39 among the best law schools in the country and #117 among national universities. Overall, the institution received a grade rating of ‘A’ from Niche.com for its renowned programs and dedicated, professional faculty and staff.
The law school’s online courses are equally comprehensive and challenging. Off-site students have the option of earning a bachelor’s of arts in law, a master’s of legal studies, or graduate certificates in health law online. UA students have the option of earning their bachelor of arts in law, which is the only undergraduate law degree available at any university in the nation. Students pursuing the MLS online have the option of building their own curriculum, and health law students work internationally with industry leaders and collaborative faculty to receive graduate certificates in their field. All of these programs enable students to establish a strong foundation in law before continuing into the workforce and finding success in their specialized fields.
14. Pepperdine University
Score: 90.5
Average Net Price: $33,814
Retention Rate: 90%
Graduation Rate: 83%
ROI: $449,000
Pepperdine University is a private, Christian institution that operates campuses throughout California and several other locations. The School of Law at Pepperdine enrolls 473 full-time students, and tuition sits at around $55,892 per year. Students who take part in Pepperdine’s online master’s of legal studies program collaborates with award-winning faculty and have the chance to participate in a wide variety of network-building residencies. Despite the online format, online students are exposed to comprehensive coursework that fully equips them with legal expertise in as few as 16 months. The virtual courses make earning a legal degree more convenient than ever, making it possible for students with busy schedules and extraneous responsibilities to find success in any field they choose.
According to the U.S. News and World Report, the university sits at #50 among national universities, and the School of Law at Pepperdine ranks #51 out of all law schools in the country. Overall, the institution earns a grade rating of ‘A’ for its high-quality academics and top-of-the-line faculty, according to Niche.com. Ultimately, the school is one of wide renown, upholding its motto–“Freely ye received, freely give”–as it equips students with the skills necessary to enter the world prepared to change it.
15. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Score: 90.3
Average Net Price: $17,784
Retention Rate: 83%
Graduation Rate: 66%
ROI: $395,000
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a public land-grant institution that holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university strongly emphasizes its research institutions and has been recognized in the category R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Institute. The U.S. News and World Report ranks the university at #139 among national universities and #115 in best value schools. According to Niche.com, the school earned an overall grade rating of ‘A-‘ for its academic programs and world-class faculty.
The Nebraska College of Law supports only 379 full-time students. According to the U.S. News and World Report, it sits at #77 among the best law schools in the country. The online format is designed for part-time L.L.M. students, enabling them to complete the degree requirements within just six semesters. The timing aspect makes it easy for distance learners with J.D. degrees from A.B.A.-accredited law schools to further their educations and establish themselves in the law community while maintaining responsibilities outside of school. Despite the program’s highly competitive nature and the rigorous coursework involved, it enables students from all walks of life to receive individualized training and career-building opportunities. U.N.L. ultimately aims to equip its students with the skills necessary to succeed in the field of law and become responsible, contributing world citizens.
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