2023 Best Online Law Schools

The American Public University System (APUS) is a private institution with an online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree that takes 120 credit hours of coursework. Full-time enrollees may take as little as four years to complete this program. With its open enrollment policy, APUS generally accepts any bachelor's degree candidate. However, only 18% of them finish their degree program.

APUS uses the Brightspace platform to deliver online courses. The legal studies curriculum includes lessons on legal research, the judicial system, and ethics. Students must choose a generalist path or one of seven concentrations during this program. Some of the core classes include Proficiency in Writing, Constitutional Law, and Civil Practice and Procedure.

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is a public school that offers an online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree. This program requires 120 credit hours, which might take four years with a full-time schedule. The university has an open admissions policy and a 28% graduation rate for bachelor's degree students.

UMGC's online students use the Learning Experience Online system to complete coursework. The school's legal studies faculty aim to create ethical, analytical legal professionals who can research and write well. The major course requirements include Advanced Legal Writing, Torts, and Advanced Legal Practices.

Liberty University is a private Baptist school with two online options for bachelor's degrees in legal studies. The university's Bachelor of Science in Law and Policy – Pre-Law degree is intended for students who want to be lawyers in the future. The Bachelor of Science in Law and Policy – Public Policy degree may also suit future lawyers, but is aimed more broadly at anyone who wants to work at the intersection of law and government. Both degrees take 120 credit hours.

Liberty uses the Canvas system to host online courses. Both degrees feature the same core law classes, but the public policy degree calls for different major courses, such as Public Policy Development in the Political Environment.

The public Arizona State University (ASU) features an online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy – Morality, Politics and Law degree with 120 required credit hours. This degree might take four years to finish for full-time students. The university accepts 73% of bachelor's candidates, and 52% of them graduate with their degrees.

ASU students use the digital learning platform Canvas to work on asynchronous online classes. As a philosophy BA, this degree emphasizes the existential and ethical foundations of the law more than its practical application. Students in this program take courses such as Principles of Sound Reasoning, Theory of Knowledge, and Philosophy of Law.

Purdue University Global (PUG) is a public, fully online school offering a Bachelor of Science in Legal Support and Services degree. This program takes 180 quarter credits, which students may complete in four years with a full-time schedule. Purdue accepts all applicants with its open admissions policy, and its bachelor's degree graduation rate is 30%.

Purdue uses the learning management system Brightspace to deliver online courses to students. This program seeks to create analytical professionals who can perform legal research and administer law offices. Enrollees take courses such as Legal Ethics and Law and Society, and they may choose a concentration in paralegal studies.