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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 01/18/23
If you’d like to go to law school without breaking the bank, read on to learn more about the cheapest law schools in the US.
With the average debt students incur from law school being a whopping $110,070, law school is a huge investment that requires a lot of money! Money that could be otherwise used for other endeavors. For instance, did you know you could own your very own private island for about $80,000 in Northern Brazil or British Columbia?
Whether you’d rather save up for an island, or simply don’t want to leave law school drowning in debt, it’s worth considering attending a cheap law school.
To give you a better idea of the types of inexpensive law schools there are, this guide will go over the cheapest law schools in the US and how you can get into them!
To give you a variety of options to choose from, here are the top 11 cheapest law schools in the nation:
The cheapest law school in the US is the University of the District of Columbia. Tuition costs $13,438 for in-state students and $25,874 for out-of-state students. For those considering attending part-time law school, these costs will be even lower! Part-time in-state tuition costs $9,440 whereas part-time out-of-state tuition costs $17,860.
UDC is not only cheap to attend, but it’s also easy to get into! It has a high acceptance rate of 42.2%. For students with low LSAT scores, UDC is also a great option, as their median LSAT score is 149. This low LSAT score requirement will also save you money because it means you won’t have to retake the LSAT to try to get a higher score!
UDC also has a low GPA requirement of 3.08.
Rest assured, despite being a cheap law school, UDC provides students with an extensive legal education to prepare them for their careers. In fact, it has been around for 50 years and ranks fifth in the nation for its excellent clinical program!
Coming in as a close second is Florida A&M University. At $13,851 a year for tuition for in-state students, Florida A&M is only slightly more expensive than UDC. Tuition for out-of-state students is $33,112.
Like UDC, Florida A&M also offers a part-time program for busy students. This part-time program costs $8,836 for in-state students and $21,035 for out-of-state students.
A&M has an acceptance rate of 37% and prospective students should aim to have a GPA in the range of 3.15-3.64 and an LSAT score in the range of 147-152 to be considered attractive candidates.
Florida A&M has a rich history of legal excellence that dates back to 1951. Since then, this school has been dedicated to being a catalyst for change and transforming the world through equitable justice and rule of law.
By offering all of their law students access to the best resources and training, Florida A&M hopes to produce attorneys that serve as transformative powers for the public good!
Brigham Young University is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). LDS members’ tuition is $14,208 whereas non-LDS members must pay $28,416.
Despite these low tuition costs, BYU has high expectations of its prospective students. Interested students should aim to have a GPA of 3.83 and an LSAT score of 167 to be considered for admission.
For students who have yet to write the LSAT and are dreading it, you may be in luck if you choose to apply to BYU! BYU offers LSAT exemption for students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher, have scored in the top 15% on their ACT or SAT, and who do not have an LSAT or GRE score reported to LSAC.
Once students gain admission to BYU, they will be offered a rigorous law curriculum to empower them to make an impact. Along with this curriculum, this law school also offers various externship, leadership, and international opportunities, as well as law clinics that students can participate in to gain valuable legal experience!
The University of Montana is another one of the cheapest law schools in the US. This law school costs $16,041 for in-state students and $38,897 for out-of-state students.
Getting into this school is relatively easy, as UM accepts 40.9% of all students that apply to its programs. This 40.9% typically have a median LSAT score of 156 and a GPA of 3.5.
UM students are given an experience-rich environment to combine theory with practice and produce the next generation of lawyers that will make a meaningful difference.
UM does this by offering clinical simulations starting from students’ first year of law school, and a mandatory in-house clinic or field placement in their last year. With this wide range of practical experience, UM has even been named one of the best schools for practical training in the nation.
For students interested in advocating for the environment, UM was also ranked as one of the top schools for environmental law.
This Long Island school costs $16,105 for in-state students and $26,705 for out-of-state students. CUNY also offers a part-time program for a slightly lower cost: $15,195 for in-state students and $25,085 for out-of-state students.
CUNY has an acceptance rate of 29.6%, a median GPA of 3.46, and a median LSAT score of 155.
As the number one public interest law school in the nation, CUNY’s mission involves teaching law in the service of human needs and transforming law to include people it otherwise excludes and oppresses.
All CUNY students participate in clinical education to get hands-on experience and begin creating transformative justice while they are still JD students!
For students interested in becoming human rights lawyers, this school may be the perfect choice for you, as their clinics and curriculum focus on marginalized populations. For instance, they have a Human Rights and Gender Justice clinic that has worked on cases involving racial coercion and control and decriminalizing abortion.
Tuition at the University of North Dakota costs $16,725 for in-state students and $31,735 for out-of-state students. UND is not only one of the cheapest law schools to get into in the nation, but it is also among the easiest! It has a high acceptance rate of 54.7%, and relatively low admission score requirements: a 3.39 GPA and a 150 LSAT score.
As a law school built in 1899, and the only law school in North Dakota, UND has honed its curriculum to offer law students the very best preparation for their legal careers.
In fact, to ensure the focus is on the students, UND offers small class sizes, so students can engage with nationally acclaimed faculty and build lasting connections. UND faculty members work closely with students to ensure they feel in charge of their knowledge and can achieve all of their personal and professional goals!
The University of Arkansas is not only known for its diverse curriculum and experiential learning opportunities, but also its low costs.
In-state tuition for full-time students costs $16,728 and out-of-state tuition costs $32,672. For students considering part-time school, Arkansas’ part-time program costs $11,674 a year for in-state students and $22,303 for out-of-state students.
To be among the 59.6% of candidates that are accepted into this school, students should aim to maintain a GPA of 3.43 and get an LSAT score of 152.
To circle back to UA’s extensive legal clinics, their clinics offer opportunities to explore various fields of law. These are the clinics UA offers:
UA students are able to find their niche and practice in it!
As yet another cheap law school that offers students a full-time and part-time option, the University of South Dakota is a great, affordable school for aspiring law students.
Full-time tuition costs $16,794 for in-state students and $36,344 for out-of-state students. Part-time tuition costs $10,544 for in-state students and $20,964 for out-of-state students.
Fortunately, this school is also one of the easiest schools to get into! It has the highest acceptance rate on this list, 69%. It accepts LSAT scores in the range of 148-153 and GPAs in the range of 3.06-3.74.
With the motto “preparing today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders,” USD ensures law students receive the education and experience they need to thrive in their legal professions.
As one of the best value law schools in the nation, USD has high placement rates, a low student-to-faculty ratio, and diverse experiential learning opportunities!
Students interested in attending the University of Nebraska can expect to pay $16,800 a year for tuition if they're in-state students and $39,504 a year if they’re out-of-state students. Proving the affordability of this school, UN ranks fourth in the nation for having the lowest debt incurred after graduation!
If this school is within your budget, and you’d like to learn more about how to get in, UN has a promising acceptance rate of 62.6% and has relatively low LSAT and GPA requirements. Their median LSAT score is 158 and their median GPA is 3.64.
UN offers its students experienced faculty, a constantly evolving law curriculum, specialized courses, and a personalized learning environment to ensure they produce leaders who advance justice, solve problems, and serve with integrity.
Coming in 10th place as the cheapest law school in the nation is the University of Wyoming. Tuition at this law school costs $16,838 for in-state students and $34,238 for out-of-state students.
UW’s achievements don’t just stop at its affordability! UW was named one of the best schools for practical training and environmental law! Said to have a family-like environment, students at this school join a community of like-minded individuals all united by the same goal to fight for justice and make change!
UW has an acceptance rate of 51.5%, a median LSAT score of 154, and a median GPA of 3.32.
Last, but certainly not least (in price nor value), is the University of Arkansas. While this school is the most expensive on this list, it is still one of the cheapest law schools in the US. Full-time tuition for in-state students costs $17,133 a year and $38,160 for out-of-state students.
To provide students with a truly unique experience, Arkansas Law students are given opportunities to participate in pro bono clinics, client clinics, externships, competitions, and even food and agricultural initiatives.
With a focus on diversity, Arkansas Law was actually also the first school to permit the Six Pioneers, six African American law students, to attend law school in the South without a court order!
If you’d like to be part of this revolutionary and diverse school, you should aim to score a 156 on your LSAT and maintain a 3.59 GPA. Arkansas Law has a 47.8% acceptance rate.
If you have any remaining questions about the cheapest law schools in the US, read on to find your answers.
The cheapest law school to attend is the University of the District of Columbia for both in-state and out-of-state students.
No, there aren’t any free law schools in the US. Certain universities do offer free legal courses to interested students, but not full JD programs. However, there are free law schools outside the US and there are other ways to go to law school for free, such as receiving scholarships.
The first step to be able to afford law school is to find a cheap law school, which we’ve already done for you through this guide! Once you’ve chosen a cheap law school, you can apply to scholarships offered by this school or external ones that can cover the partial or full cost of law school.
Many schools also offer scholarships for students that excel on their LSAT or are otherwise impressive candidates. Achieving a stellar LSAT score and working hard on your application can allow you to go to a top-ranking school for free!
Aside from these methods, the majority of students need financial aid in the form of loans or grants in order to pay for law school.
The University of the District of Columbia is the easiest law school to get into on this list. It has a median LSAT score of 149 and median GPA of 3.08.
The average amount of debt law students have is $110,070. However, students that attend the schools on this list have much lower debt amounts.
Columbia University is the most expensive law school in the nation. Its tuition costs $74,995 a year.
Law school in and of itself is difficult! With the added financial stress that high-cost law schools add, getting through law school and handling the copious amount of debt afterwards can seem impossible.
To ensure you have the best possible law school experience with the least amount of financial stress, consider applying to any one of the cheap law schools on this list! If you’re looking for personalized guidance throughout your application process, working with a law school admissions consultant can help you make informed decisions and maximize your chances of success.
While these law schools may cost a fraction of the price of others, they don’t come at a fraction of the value! They can still offer you the right education and experience to become a successful attorney!
