Bachelor of Law in the USA is a 3 – 4 years program offered as a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. The tuition fee for the program ranges from $24,000 to $74,000 per year.
Juris Doctor is a 3 years professional program that makes graduates eligible to sit for the bar exam and practice as a registered lawyer. However, the entry requirement for a JD program is very demanding and often expensive.
A bachelor’s degree in law provides an affordable path to legal training for a wide range of occupations that require legal knowledge but do not require that you be a lawyer.
Graduates of the bachelor of law program may find employment as paralegal specialists, policy analysts, jury consultants, political advisors, IRS agents, etc., in government and non-government offices, not-for-profit offices, etc. The average salary of a graduate of a bachelor's program is $72,000 per year, and that of the JD program is $92,000 per year.
Law school in the United States differs significantly from law school in other nations. Students in various nations begin their legal studies right after graduating from high school or secondary school. In the US, however, law is a professional academic field, the equivalent of a graduate degree in other parts of the world.
Why Study Bachelor’s of Law in the USA?
- A wide selection of concentration tracks.
- Option to choose between professional and general undergraduate programs to study law.
- Enormous opportunities for internships and co-ops in USA companies.
- Courses taught by experienced faculties and professionals from renowned colleges.
- International law graduates are eligible for the advanced academic standing option and can transfer credit.
- Students have the flexibility to explore a wide range of united states law fields during their bachelor's program.
- A dual degree and combined bachelor's and master's programs are also available.
- Along with JD, students can also take programs such as MBA, Human Rights, International trade, etc., making them specialists in one of those fields.
Bachelor of Law in the USA: Universities and Program
A bachelor’s degree in Law is offered as a bachelor of arts or science degree. In either case, students are first admitted to a general program and then declare their major after completing a year of undergraduate education. Students must meet a particular prerequisite to enter into the major.
Juris Doctor is a professional degree that enables graduates to sit for the bar examination and eventually practice as registered lawyers.
Choosing the right law university is an important step. It is essential to pick a college that is a good fit for you. Attending a law degree in the USA, where you wish to practice your learnings is often advised. The article has compiled a list to help you choose the ideal law school if you need more information.
University |
Program |
Course Duration |
University of Chicago |
Bachelor of Arts in Law, Letters, and Society |
4 years |
Northwestern University |
Juris Doctor |
3 years |
University of California - Berkeley Campus |
BA in Legal Studies |
4 years |
New York University |
Juris Doctor |
3 years |
University of Texas--Austin |
Juris Doctor |
3 years |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
BA/BS in Legal Studies |
4 years |
Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor of Arts/Science in Criminology |
4 years |
Boston University |
Juris Doctor |
3 years |
Purdue University |
Bachelor of Arts in Digital Criminology |
3 - 4 years |
University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor of Arts in Law, Criminal Justice, and Society |
4 years |
University of Florida |
BA in Criminology |
4 years |
University of Virginia |
Juris Doctor |
3 years |
University of Arizona |
Bachelor of Arts in Law |
3 - 4 years |
North Carolina State University |
BA in Criminology |
4 years |
Requirements:
University of Chicago
- Completion of higher secondary education
- International students must submit IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent English language test scores, but there is no minimum requirement.
University of California – Berkeley Campus
- Completion of higher secondary education that allows applicants to enter into an undergraduate program in their home country.
- The minimum GPA requirement is 3.4.
- Although the SAT and ACT score requirement is not stated, the average ACT score of admitted students is 32 to 35, and SAT score is 1450 – 1530.
- A TOEFL score of 80 or more overall, an IELTS score of at least 6.5, or a Duolingo score of 115.
University of Texas—Austin
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.2
- Compulsory registration with the Law School Admission Council and the Credential Assembly Service
- LSAT or GRE scores are required
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Attested copy of transcripts of higher secondary education
- Applicants must have completed courses in English, Science, Math, Social studies, language, and fine arts or any other academic course.
- A Duolingo English test score of 105, an IELTS score of 6.5, or a TOEFL score of 80 or more.
Pennsylvania State University
- Applicants must report all the courses taken and grades obtained in the final 3 years of higher secondary education.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 or more or a TOEFL score of at least 80 overall.
Boston University:
- Must have completed a bachelor’s degree
- Compulsory registration with the Credential Assembly Service.
- LSAT or GRE required.
- A TOEFL score of 100 overall with at least 25 in each section or an IELTS score of 7.0.
Purdue University
- Completion of higher secondary education
- Applicants must have completed courses in English, Science, Math, Social Studies, language, fine arts or any other academic course.
- SAT or ACT score is highly preferred
- A TOEFL score of 80 or more or an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in each section.
University of Virginia
- A bachelor’s degree (no minimum GPA)
- LSTA, GRE, or GMAT score is required
- JD applicants are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores but can submit to demonstrate English language proficiency.
University of Arizona
- Completion of higher secondary education with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Applicants are required to submit the last three years of grade work (grade 10 to grade 12)
- A minimum TOEFL score of 79, an IELTS score of 6.5, or a PTE score of 53 overall.
University of Florida
- Completion of higher secondary education
- SAT or ACT score is required
- IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo test scores are required, but there is no minimum requirement.
Master of Law (LLM) in the USA
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Bachelor of Law in the USA: Tuition Fee
Law school is a significant financial investment. Before deciding to attend, students carefully examine the cost of attendance (COA) for institutions of interest and consider how they will pay for law school debt.
In a private law school in the USA, annual tuition and fees cost about $49,000 per year. Tuition and expenses for out-of-state students attending public law schools averaged $40,620 annually. In-state public college students are paid an average of $30,186 per year.
Let us provide the cost details for a bachelor in law program in USA's best law universities.
University |
Tuition Fee Per Year |
University of Chicago |
$59,256 |
Northwestern University |
$69,350 |
University of California - Berkeley Campus |
$24,000 |
New York University |
$70,400 |
University of Texas--Austin |
$50,000 - $54,000 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
$39,354 |
Pennsylvania State University |
$15,476 = $7738*2 |
Boston University |
$61,160 |
Purdue University |
$31,104 |
University of Pittsburgh |
$35,000 |
University of Florida |
$28,658 |
University of Virginia |
$71,500 |
University of Arizona |
$37,200 |
North Carolina State University |
$30,000 |
Bachelor of Law in the USA: Scholarships
Law scholarships in the USA enable you to pursue one of the most prestigious career options available to students, as the law is one of the most popular. A law degree allows you to work as a lawyer in a courtroom or a business and offer up professional opportunities in corporate management, legal services, and administrative services. Many USA schools and institutions across the city provide law school scholarships to students.
Some of the scholarships offered to international students of law in the USA are mentioned in the table below:
University |
Scholarship |
Amount |
University of Arizona |
First-year global wild cat award |
$5500 to $22000 |
University of Chicago |
International Financial Aid |
Varies |
University of Texas—Austin |
Texas Law Scholarship |
$1000 for a full-tuition scholarship |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Western Union Scholarship |
$1000 |
Boston University |
Dean’s Scholar Program |
Full Tuition Scholarship |
Bachelor of Law in the USA: Job Scope
Depending upon the specialization, graduates can find employment in different settings, such as law firms, corporate offices, government offices, etc. With a BA/BS in law degree, graduates can work in a field that requires law knowledge but does not require one to be a registered lawyer.
If you plan to pursue a master's or doctoral law degree, a Legal Studies degree can be an excellent stepping stone to high-level government posts.
With an undergraduate legal degree, students will have several options for a successful profession, including academics, journalism, government agencies, policymaking, many regulated sectors, etc.
As an international student, studying law in the United States can open many opportunities.
The average salary of graduates of a JD program is $95,000 per year, and that of a bachelor of arts in law in the USA is $72,000 per year.
If you're an international student planning to study law in the United States, here are some job opportunities for those with an undergraduate degree.
Role |
Range of Salary |
Average Salary |
General Counsel |
$96,000 - $256,000 |
$162,731 |
Attorney/Lawyer |
$54,000 - $150,000 |
$85,805 |
Corporate Counsel |
$78,000 - $173,000 |
$117,533 |
Legal Counsel |
$80,000 - $183,000 |
$125,271 |
Staff Attorney |
$50,000 - $107,000 |
$72,067 |
Legal Secretary |
$34,000 - $67,000 |
$48,531 |
Administrative Coordinator |
$38,000 - $65,000 |
$49,568 |
Legal Assistant |
$35,000 - $62,000 |
$46,976 |
Contracts Manager |
$69,000 - $116,000 |
$90,605 |
Litigation Attorney |
$66,000 - $155,000 |
$98,436 |
Patent Attorney |
$98,000 - $216,000 |
$144,894 |
Contract Specialist |
$53,000 - $93,000 |
$69,983 |
Entry Level Attorney |
$45,000 - $84,000 |
$60,537 |
Chief Legal Officer |
$128,000 - $313,000 |
$200,258 |