A list of the 10 cheapest law schools, academic credentials needed, tuition, acceptance rate and bar passage rate. 1. Southern University Law Center Annual tuition: $11,338 The most affordable school of law in the U.S. (both when it comes to the out-of-state and in-state student tuition) is Southern University Law Center.
| No. | Law School | Room & Board |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University | $19,190 |
| 2 | New York University | $24,400 |
| 3 | U. of Pennsylvania | $16,830 |
| 4 | Cornell University | $16,766 |
The following is the list from National Jurist for their best value lawyer colleges: University of Nebraska. University of Kentucky. University of Florida. Georgia State University. University of Arkansas. University of New Mexico. University of Idaho.
The average cost of these schools does not vary significantly from the second grouping at $37,500. This would lead to a three-year grad school cost of $112,500, with a total cost of $188,500 to become a lawyer. The following table summarizes the total cost figures from the three different rankings of schools.
Even for the least expensive option, in-state public school, the cost over three years is $84,792. Over three years, a law student can expect to pay anywhere from $84,792 (in-state, public school) to $148,644 (private school) and up.
Fortunately, there are a few law schools in the U.S. who focus on providing good value whilst maintaining relatively low fees. If you want to save money while studying law take a look below at the 13 cheapest law schools in the U.S. and some of their program highlights.
Yale Law SchoolTop 50 Law SchoolsUSNWR RankLaw SchoolMedian LSAT1Yale Law School1732Harvard Law School1733Stanford Law School1714Columbia University Law School17146 more rows
Ranking Top 10 Most Affordable Law SchoolsThe University of Georgia.The University of Montana. ... The University of North Dakota. ... The University of the District of Columbia. ... CUNY School of Law. Long Island City, New York. ... Southern University Law Center. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ... The University of Wyoming. Laramie, Wyoming. ...
These lawyer colleges are typically the most prestigious and have the lowest acceptance rates....Most PrestigiousYale University.Stanford University.Harvard University.University of Chicago.Columbia University.New York University.University of Pennsylvania.University of Michigan.More items...
TUITION RATES: Tuition and fees for both 2019-2020 terms for full-time law degrees is $12,597.50 per year for Canadians and $22,531.00 for international students.
Before law school, students must complete a Bachelor's degree in any subject (law isn't an undergraduate degree), which takes four years. Then, students complete their Juris Doctor (JD) degree over the next three years. In total, law students in the United States are in school for at least seven years.
How to Pay for Law SchoolEarn scholarships and grants. You don't have to repay scholarships and grants, making them the best option to pay for law school â if you qualify. ... Work part-time. Law students can earn federal work-study funds by working part time. ... Use military financial aid. ... Take out student loans.
about $148,910 a yearA: In 2020, the average salary of a lawyer was approximately $12,410 a month, which amounts to about $148,910 a year. Q: Do lawyers who own private practices or partners in law firms have a higher salary? A: Lawyers working in law firms generally earn more than those who own private practices.
Before law school, students must complete a Bachelor's degree in any subject (law isn't an undergraduate degree), which takes four years. Then, students complete their Juris Doctor (JD) degree over the next three years. In total, law students in the United States are in school for at least seven years.
In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every yearâso it is clearly attainable.
Assessment of ApplicationsAverage GPA of 3.67. in the first year class.LSAT Scores in the 86th percentile. at an average of 163.Average applicant age of 25 years old. Range of early 20s to mid 50s.
Total Cost of Law School Over three years, a law student can expect to pay anywhere from $87,222 (in-state, public school) to $153,804 (private school) and up. These numbers can be overwhelming, especially when moving from undergrad directly to law school.
three yearsIn Canada, the first-level common law degree is the Juris Doctor or JD, which takes three years to complete. It is an undergraduate degree program, and not a graduate degree program, even though prior undergraduate education is required for entry. The first year of law school is similar at most Canadian law schools.
One of the greatest benefits of attending the most affordable law school program compared to a school with the big name and the largest price tag is that students still receive the same high-quality level of education that is provided to students at the less expensive schools. Other benefits of choosing one of the most affordable law school options ...
Graduating from a less expensive law school likely means having less debt. Affordable law schools sometimes offer program options that may not be available at larger, more expensive law schools, or that are less expensive compared to other schools.
Other benefits of choosing one of the most affordable law school options include: Law schools with lower tuition rates possibly have lower costs for fees and other expenses compared to more expensive law schools.
Students attending the University of North Dakota School of Law engage in the schoolâs âpractice-ready approachâ to education with experiential learning opportunities. Students also gain skills and knowledge through the trial teams and moot court opportunities.
The University of Mississippi School of Law is another school that offers a law degree related to advances in space and the need to protect citizens. It is offered as a concentration for students in the schoolsâ juris doctor program and a Master of Laws degree for law school graduates.
Choose from a dozen concentrations when you choose to earn your degree at the University of Oklahoma School of Law. The American Indian and Indigenous People Law, and International and Comparative Law are two examples of the concentrations.
The University of the District of Columbia provides up to 10,000 hours of legal services to members of the community, providing students with hands-on experiences. The school stresses the importance of providing students with these and other supervised experiences as part of their training to become effective and ethical lawyers.
Traditional courses taken in law school include civil law, public law, criminal law, contract law, and business law. When obtaining a law degree, it may seem necessary to live among the book stacks of a law library, but there will be time for fun as well. Along with schoolwork, students working towards a law degree will generally partake in ...
A law degree is formally known as a Juris Doctorate (J.D.), and granted as a graduate degree after one completes a three-year program at a law school. It is the highest education available in the United States in the legal field. Traditional courses taken in law school include civil law, public law, criminal law, contract law, and business law.
Some common undergrad majors include political science, literature, philosophy, and history, which provide the writing and critical thinking practice students will need in law school.
Bachelorâs in Economics . Economics is an excellent major for aspiring lawyers, especially for those intending to work in corporate law, intellectual property, or another niche where an understanding of economic theory and the levers that drive capitalism can be useful.
Approximately 12,000-13,000 pre-law students choose political science as an undergraduate major, making it the most popular major by a wide margin. One in five applicants has a bachelorâs degree in political science.
A bachelorâs degree in business administration is well suited for law school, especially those applicants considering a corporate law track where knowing business fundamentals is helpful . The coursework is rigorous in reading, writing, and quantitative analysis, which is also helpful in preparing for the LSAT.
Because the criminal justice and legal systems are so intertwined, a bachelorâs degree in criminal justice serves as an excellent undergraduate major in preparation for law school. Those considering work as a prosecuting or defense attorney may find the degree especially helpful, as the coursework and internships will give students a strong familiarity with the criminal justice system. Potential law students can also form helpful relationships with current lawyers that can provide insight into what itâs like to work in the criminal justice system. Helpful courses include criminology, criminal psychology, law & the criminal justice system, and social science research.
Courses such as business law, contract negotiations, and public speaking are just a few that have proven to be helpful.
Laws have material consequences on every person and structure. They influence outcomes across the life course, making the field extremely important to the stability and progress of society. The work done by law professionals is competitive and pays well. Because of these things, students wishing to pursue a career in law are faced ...
These skills are not only helpful in the field but serve as excellent preparation for entrance exams like the LSAT. Research shows that students who major in linguistics, a similar discipline to English, score exceptionally high on the LSAT and are admitted at rates higher than any other major at approximately 90%.
A shuttle transports you to the other 5 colleges connected with Amherst (University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Smith College, Mount-Holyoke College and Hampshire College).
Freshman: Northwestern is definitely an academically rigorous school, but the amount of resources provided to its students makes success attainable. The Northwestern faculty goes above and beyond to ensure that their students have the support they need, not only to promote strong academics, but also all facets of health. Also, the student body at Northwestern is incredible! Everyone is extremely kind and inclusive. Thus, despite the rigor of the classes at NU--and the stress that such rigor entails--I have had such a positive experience that has made it all worth it!#N#Read 1,415 Reviews
Freshman: UW-Madison is a great college! I personally enjoyed the social scene and the beautiful campus. Not only are there multiple course options, but most of the courses offered are extremely interesting. The classes can be time-consuming and difficult depending on your major of study. The hard-work pays off though. Professors are really understanding, especially because of the current pandemic. Madison has a great support system for their students and offers really great resources for tutoring. There is also a great variety of extracurriculars at Wisconsin. If you are interested in joining a fraternity or a sorority, rest assured that Madison's Greek life is very active. If Greek life isn't your style, there are still plenty of other ways to make friends and have fun. Weekends are always a good time at Madison. The bar scene on-campus is fun as well. A good rule of thumb for future UW-Madison students is "Work hard, play hard." Attending UW-Madison will produce a fun college experience!#N#Read 3,215 Reviews
To become a practicing lawyer, students must take a licensing âbarâ exam for the state in which they wish to practice .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barack Obama, Mahatma Gandhi, Gloria Allred, Thurgood Marshall. These famous lawyers all chose different paths, bolstered by their dedication and passion for the law and doing whatâs right.
The cheapest law school is the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law , where tuition is $12,838 per year.
Law school textbooks can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,250 per year , making them a significant cost in addition to tuition and housing. To save money, law students can buy used books or rent books as needed during the semester.
Room and board. Each law school publishes their expectation for living expenses to cover the cost of a law studentâs housing and food expenses for an academic year. Keep in mind that these are expectations for the average cost for such expenses and donât include expenses if you have a special circumstance.
LSAC will also charge you a $30 fee for each law school report it sends. The average student applies to nine law schools, meaning you can expect to spend over $1,000 applying to law school. To minimize law school application costs, request application fee waivers from the law school admission offices.
In addition to paying interest, youâll also get charged an origination fee for each loan that is disbursed. Those fees range from 1% up to greater than 4% for Graduate PLUS loans.
The final factor to consider is the opportunity cost of going to law school and obtaining a law degree. Whether youâre attending full-time or part-time, you would be working and receiving a salary if you werenât attending law school.
decide if law school is a good financial decision. The cost of law school is composed of several parts: (1) tuition; (2) room and board; (3) borrowing costs and (4) opportunity cost. Only after considering all four factors can you truly understand the cost of attendance at a law school. The total cost numbers provided to law students often neglect ...
The University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law aims to recruit and train students from groups which are currently underrepresented in law-related fields. This school boasts its status as the most diverse law school in the nation.
The University of Louisvilleâs Louis D. Brandeis School of Law has a strong focus on practical legal education. It is the fifth oldest continually operated law school in the country.
The Southern University Law Center was established in 1947 as a state law school. This school was originally established to prepare African Americans for the legal profession. Its mission is to provide access to high-quality legal education to a diverse group of students, including underrepresented racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
The total students enrolled in its law school is about 250 students.
The University of Montanaâs law school is over a hundred years old. With fewer than 250 students, it describes itself as an intimate hands-on college. It was accredited by the National Bar Association in 1923 already.
Studying in the U.S. can be expensive, especially for international students who want to study at a law school. Fortunately, there are a few law schools in the U.S. who focus on providing good value whilst maintaining relatively low fees.
For the purpose of this analysis, we will lump the law schools into three categories. The first category is the top twenty best law schools as rated by U.S news Education Grad School rankings.
For our first grouping of the top twenty graduate law schools in the country, the average tuition comes in at $45,569 per year.
The average cost of law school is very high, and you need to be in the top of your class and very competitive to even have a shot at one of the top schools.