Graduating from an accredited law school can help you give your career the edge it needs. A US News survey of 55 law schools across the country found the median salary for graduates to be at or above $100,000. So what jobs can you get with a law degree? There are numerous options available for specialities—including corporate law, constitutional law, criminal law, sports law, and public health law—making it an excellent career choice with a wide scope for both vertical and horizontal growth.
Aspirants with personal or professional commitments that don’t allow them to be a full-time student can enroll in part-time courses at a well-reputed, accredited university. However, before applying for a course, you must check the eligibility criteria and relative advantages of each one of them. University affiliations, LSAT scores, and employment rates are all important parameters that you should base your search on.
Here’s a guide to some of the best law schools with part-time programs in the U.S. to help you make your decision.
Top 10 Part-time Law Programs in the U.S.
- Georgetown University
- George Washington University
- Fordham University
- George Mason University
- American University (Washington)
- University of Maryland (Carey)
- Loyola Marymount University
- Temple University (Beasley)
- Loyola University Chicago
- University of Houston Law Center
1. Georgetown University
U.S. News Best Part-time Law Program Ranking: #1
Tuition: $47,006 (part-time)
Average GPA: 3.8
Median LSAT Score: 167
Acceptance Rate: 21.2%
Bar Passage Rate: 95.6%
2. George Washington University
U.S. News Best Part-time Program Ranking: #2
Tuition: $48,300 (part-time)
Average GPA: 3.71
Median LSAT Score: 165
Acceptance Rate: 21.2%
Bar Passage Rate: 95.6%
3. Fordham University
U.S. News Best Part-time Law Program Ranking: #3
Tuition: $50,198 (part-time)
Average GPA: 3.6
Median LSAT Score: 164
Acceptance Rate: 25.9%
Bar Passage Rate: 92.3%
4. George Mason University
U.S. News Best Part-time Program Ranking: #4
Tuition: $19,404 (in-state, part-time) $30,944 (out-of-state, part-time)
Average GPA: 3.76
Median LSAT Score: 167
Acceptance Rate: 21.2%
Bar Passage Rate: 95.6%
5. American University (Washington)
U.S. News Best Part-time Law Program Ranking: #5
Tuition: $41,191 (part-time)
Average GPA: 3.43
Median LSAT Score: 158
Acceptance Rate: 48.6%
Bar Passage Rate: 66%
6. University of Maryland (Carey)
U.S. News Best Part-time Law Program Ranking: #6
Tuition: $23,998 (in-state, part-time) $34,419 (out-of-state, part-time)
Average GPA: 3.56
Median LSAT Score: 158
Acceptance Rate: 47.7%
Bar Passage Rate: 76.6%
7. Loyola Marymount University
U.S. News Best Part-time Law Program Ranking: #7
Tuition: $40,722 (part-time)
Average GPA: 3.58
Median LSAT Score: 160
Acceptance Rate: 36.3%
Bar Passage Rate: 74.2%
8. Temple University (Beasley)
U.S. News Best Part-time Law Program Ranking: #8
Tuition: $23,257 (in-state, part-time) $35,053 (out-of-state, part-time)
Average GPA: 3.54
Median LSAT Score: 161
Acceptance Rate: 35.9%
Bar Passage Rate: 83.8%
9. Loyola University Chicago
U.S. News Best Part-time Law Program Ranking: #9
Tuition: $38,380 (part-time)
Average GPA: 3.43
Median LSAT Score: 157
Acceptance Rate: 45.8%
Bar Passage Rate: 77.8%
10. University of Houston Law Center
U.S. News Best Part-time Law Program Ranking: #10
Tuition: $23,990 (in-state, part-time) $34,028 (out-of-state, part-time)
Average GPA: 3.61
Median LSAT Score: 160
Acceptance Rate: 33.1%
Bar Passage Rate: 85.2%
Day vs. Evening Part-time
Almost all law schools on our list provide both day and evening classes as a part of their part-time law courses. Loyola University Chicago is the only one that also provides weekend-only part-time courses for applicants who cannot make time during the week.
Furthermore, several of these universities provide joint degree programs like J.D./Ph.D. and J.D./M.B.A., with their part-time courses. The top-ranked law school on the list, Georgetown University, is situated near the heart of the U.S. Federal Government in Washington, D.C. It offers a joint J.D./Ph.D. in government program, which examines the effect of U.S. law on the American government and its political processes. It also offers a joint master’s degree in public health in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
All part-time law school programs in the U.S. (both day and evening batches) award the law student with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree after completion of three-and-a-half to four years of part-time study. Part-time students may have to take an average of 11 to 12 credits in each upper-class semester, as well as five to eight summer credits to finish the required average of 85 credits in this time frame.
What should you do to be admitted to a part-time law school of your choice?
The most important criterion you need to fulfill to get into a part-time law program of your choice is receiving a good Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score. LSAT scores decide what universities and courses you might be able to get into. As a part-time student, LSAT preparation can be hectic. Blueprint can help solve this problem.
Our LSAT prep courses can be tailored according to your time and learning speed. Our lessons, hosted by top instructors, and mock LSAT test bundles, will help you be better prepared for the test.
Book an online consultation today for in-depth guidance for your LSAT test or start with our free account to get a free practice test, flashcards and study planner!
