Jobi.ngWhen most people think of a law career, they naturally think of seeing themselves spending sleepless nights trying to pass their school courses, but I assure you, studying law online is one of the easiest ways to excel in your law career.
Law schools in the United States are increasingly embracing the benefits of new technology and meeting student demand for increased flexibility by investing in online education.
However, in this article, we will help you build your dream of becoming a law student and also to give you detailed information about the cheapest online school you ever wanted.
Why Should Students Prefer Online Law School?
Online learning has become a thing of the present. But why does everyone want to be a part of it? What’s so good about it anyway?
Flexibility is an important benefit, for online law students especially as it can help attract and retain nontraditional students who have family and work demands on their time that might otherwise preclude them from attaining a law degree.
Also, you can learn at your own pace you especially can cover a wider range of lessons in a shorter period which is super cool, Online law school programs offer you the opportunity to still fulfill your dream even though you can’t physically be at school.
Additionally, many online law schools are accredited, even if they are not approved by the ABA. This implies that you can still get world-class law education at these schools which will run parallel to those on campus.
Read also: What is Masters of Law (LLM) Degree?
How Much Can I Earn With an Online Law Degree?
Law is among the professions that pay a pretty good amount of money. 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.
However, the fact that ABA does not endorse online law schools nevertheless makes it an advocate for an online law degree.
You are still a lawyer in all respects and would gain the same as a lawyer with a traditional university degree. However, you will have to practice privately if you have to practice.
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for lawyers in the United States is $117,188. This figure is the same for health attorneys, which is a career for which an online law degree prepares you.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Law Degree Online?
Online law degree programs take about four years. An academic year consists of 48 to 52 consecutive weeks.
As with traditional law school programs, some courses are compulsory while others are elective courses that vary by institution.
A big difference between traditional law study programs and online study programs is that many distance education courses have more than one large exam at the end of the course that determines a student’s grade.
What Can I Do With a Degree in Law?
Law has always been one of the most ambitious and respectable professions in the world, but we all know it is pretty expensive to study law.
Also, given its versatility, it can be a gateway to just about any major field, from corporate business to healthcare to politics.
Tip: Calculate your Law School GPA using the LSAC GPA Calculator
Another great option is paralegal work. Paralegals are an especially in-demand career with excellent earning potential. Paralegals in areas such as Washington DC and Alaska can expect to earn around 70,000 dollars a year.
Our research will help you make the most of whatever legal career you choose by finding the most affordable programs with the added flexibility of online Law learning.
Read also: How to Become a Tax Lawyer
What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Law?
The American Bar Association (ABA) currently does not accredit any online degrees and only one state- California- allows students from non-ABA accredited online schools to sit for the bar exam.
Moreover, those online students who complete a Juris Doctor degree and sit for the California bar are much less likely to pass it.
Even those who manage to pass the exam face significant challenges, as it is difficult to find employment in a preexisting firm with a degree from a non-ABA-accredited school.
For those who manage to practice law in California, it can take several years of law practice before they are eligible to practice in other states, so if you are planning on getting an online degree for practicing law, expect to live in California for at least a decade.
Then again, there are worse places to live than the land of sun and sand.
What Are The Most Affordable Online Law Degrees?
Because this list includes Juris Doctor degrees as well as master’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees, we have ranked the programs by cost per credit unit rather than by total cost.
You may also find our Most Affordable Online Master’s Programs useful.
However, included in the description of each program are the out-of-pocket tuition expenses you can expect to pay for the entire degree.
Now stick around while College Choice passes judgment on the most affordable online programs in the fields of law and legal studies.
List of Top Cheapest Online Law School
Below are the lists of online law school programs that include bachelor’s degrees, master’s, doctoral, and certificate degrees.
They span a variety of law-oriented disciplines such as legal office administration, taxation, paralegal studies, and legal studies. Also, they all have regional accreditation.
1. Capitol Technology University
This online law school is located at 11301 Springfield MD 20708, the United state. It 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 also offers two online law-related programs.
One is in pursuit of a Master of Science degree and the other is an MBA degree. These programs are as follows:
Its tuition is $24,788 for undergraduates and $11,070 for graduates. This makes this school one of the cheapest online law schools for graduates.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $24,788 | 843 | 88.3% | 2.2 |
2. Georgia State University
This online law school Located in Atlanta, GA 30302, United States, has regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACS COC).
This is a public, not-for-profit university. While this school offers a total of 33 programs in other fields of study, it also offers an online law program for associate degrees only.
Which is only an Associate of Arts in the Political Science program. Meanwhile, you’ll be paying a tuition of $23,971 as an undergraduate online law student and $24,646 as a graduate student.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $23,971 | 32,082 | 58.8% | 3.47 |
Read also: Top Cheapest Online School to Study Law
3. Humboldt State University
This online law school is Located at 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA 95521, United States. It 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.
However, you’ll pay a tuition of $19,373 as an undergraduate and $18,431 as a graduate online law student.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $19,373 | 7,774 | 77.1% | 3.21 |
4. North Carolina Central University
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.
Furthermore, this accredited online law school charges $19,106 for undergraduates and $20,365 for graduates for an online degree.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $19,106 | 8,207 | 82.8% | 3.24 |
5. Eastern Kentucky University
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.
Also, its tuition fees for undergraduates are $18,250 while for graduates, it is $15,220. This is another of the cheapest online law school you can come across.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $18,250 | 16,881 | 86.3% | 3.29 |
6. Angelo State University
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.
ASU charges $17,161 as tuition for Undergraduates and $13,977 for graduates, however.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $17,161 | 10,447 | 74.4% | 3.26 |
7. Grand Canyon University
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 for 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:
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.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $17,050 | 20,500 | 56.9% | 3.5 |
8. Albany State University
This online law school is located at 504 College Dr, Albany, United States. Has regional accreditation by SACS COC. It offers over 46 programs but just a law program towards a law degree.
The program is a Certificate in Legal Assistant/Paralegal – Certificate & Diplomas.
However, this accredited online law school charges $16,136 as undergraduate tuition and $15,720 as graduate tuition.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $16,136 | 6,371 | 49.7% | 3.37 |
9. Arizona State University
This online law school is located in Phoenix, AZ, United States. This regional accreditation by HLC offers more law courses than most of the schools 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 for bachelor’s and master’s degrees, however. Arizona State’s online law programs and their degree are as follows:
Meanwhile, this accredited online law school has a total student enrollment of 71,946 and an acceptance rate of 82.5%.
Also See: Best Law schools in Virginia, Tuition, LSAT, and GPA
This shows that not only is the university easy to get into, 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.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $27,372 | 71,946 | 82.5% | 3.76 |
Read also: 15 Free Online Law Courses to Become a Lawyer
10. Bryan University Online
This online law school is located in Tempe, AZ 85281, United States. It has national accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
While regional accreditation is more prestigious, 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.
Meanwhile, Bryan University online charges between $15,400 – $15,447 for tuition to acquire a degree at the university.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $15,400 | Over a thousand | 51% | 2.6 |
11. California University of Pennsylvania
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:
This is one of the cheapest online law schools on the list.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $15,326 | 5,174 | 96.5% | 3.89 |
12. Argosy University Online
This online law school is located in Phoenix, AZ 85029, and 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)
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.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $13,438 | 17,600 | 80 – 90% | 2.86 |
13. Liberty University
This online law school is located at 1971 University Blvd, United States. It 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:
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 schools you’ll find out there.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $11,700 | 110,000 | 24.4% | 2.97 |
14. University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It offers one of the cheapest online law degree programs on our list.
For those interested in understanding the complex issues in agriculture and food law, the University of Arkansas offers the first advanced legal degree in food law.
This 100% online program consists of 24 credit hours and takes between two semesters and four years to complete, depending on student’s pace. Classes are taught by university professors and experts in the field of agricultural law.
To apply to the program, students must hold an earned JD or LLB degree. The school is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as the 133rd-best national university and the 132nd-best value school in the country.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $8,571 | 15,093 | 66% | 3.19 |
15. American Military University
American Military University is Located in Charles Town, West Virginia. It offers the most affordable online law degree on our list.
The 36-credit-hour program is designed to provide legal and non-legal professionals with knowledge that will further their careers.
All classes are delivered online and include the criminal justice process, criminal law, legal and ethical issues in management, methods of legal research and writing, property law, and tort law.
Related: How Long Does it Take to Become a Lawyer, Cost, & Salary
Admission requirements include an earned bachelor’s from an accredited institution that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
The university is accredited and recognized by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as a top-unranked regional university in the South.
American Military University is the most affordable school on our list to offer an online law degree program.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $6,900 | 2,914 | 100% | 3.75 |
16. University of Nebraska
One of the more niches yet most accredited and cheapest online law school programs on our list is the online LLM in space, cyber, and telecommunications law degree at the University of Nebraska.
This 24-credit-hour program is fully online and designed for experienced attorneys who want to continue work in law firms or government agencies.
Classes may be completed online and taught by the same professors who instruct on campus.
Some of the courses include domestic telecommunications law, international law, international telecommunications law, researching space law, and a capstone thesis project.
The school is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 124th-best national university and the 96th-best value school in the country.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $8,978 | 20,830 | 64.4 % | 3.59 |
17. University of Illinois
The University of Illinois offers one of the most affordable law degree online programs on our list.
Night classes, 100% online delivery, and small class sizes make this program appealing to working professionals with daytime responsibilities.
Courses are delivered entirely online and are taught by the same esteemed professors who instruct on campus.
These classes include an introduction to graduate legal studies, legal research and citation, public advocacy, and theories of justice.
Admission requirements require an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
The institution is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 64th-best regional university in the Midwest and the 12th top public school.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $11,308 | 37,876 | 61.5% | 3.0 |
18. Regent University
Regent University offers an accredited online law school and an LLM degree.
This 30-credit hour program is designed for graduates of accredited colleges or universities outside the United States who have earned a JD-equivalent law degree and want to pursue additional studies in domestic law.
Some of the online courses include The American legal system and Writing, foundations of Law, foundations of legal thought, and legal analysis – research and Writing.
The degree is not structured to prepare students to take the American bar examination, though it does prepare them for law careers in consulting, corporate law, and private practice. Regent is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a top national university.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $13,326 | 4,646 | 78.3% | 3.5 |
19. South Dakota State University
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.
In addition, SDSU charges $11,689 for undergraduates and $15,521 for graduates as tuition for an online degree. This ranks it as one of the cheapest online law schools on our list.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $11,689 | 12,107 | 91% | 3.37 |
20. Abraham Lincoln University
This online law school has regional accreditation by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). It also offers five (5) online programs toward a law degree. These programs and their degree are as follows:
In addition, with a tuition of $7,500, this is one of the cheapest online law schools to grab a law degree.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $7,500 | 2,002 | 100% | 2.6 |
21. Bellevue University
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 toward a law degree.
This is a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies – Bachelor’s Degree.
Also Read: What is Advanced Degree: Q and A
Meanwhile, Bellevue University is one of the cheapest online law schools that also offer top military support.
In addition, Bellevue charges $7,752 as Undergraduate tuition and $10,770 for graduates for an online law degree.
| Tuition fee | Total number of applicants | Acceptance Rate | Average GPA |
| $7,752 | 10,407 | 100% | 3.15 |
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