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Nobody has ever claimed that going to law school is a walk in the park. Studying while working, taking care of a family, or managing other personal obligations makes the whole thing even more complicated. If you’re hoping to pursue law school while also maintaining your current job status or living situation, you might be looking into an online option.

Still, with the idea of ‘degree mill’ scam-type online universities lurking around the edges of every Google search, it can be challenging to figure out if the online law school that interests you is a legitimate option or not.

Have no fear. There are actually a fair number of accredited, online law schools that will legitimately prepare you to go on to practice law — or use your J.D. for whatever else you want.

And wait. There’s more.

Some of the accredited schools have both full and part-time options. Some have fully remote programs. Others have in-person residencies. To put it briefly, accredited online law schools are really trying to meet students where they are, when they are, and how they are.

In this guide, we’ll take you through:

• The significance of being accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA)
• The ABA-accredited online programs that currently exist
• What those programs offer to students

What Does ABA Accreditation Mean?

When a law school is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), it means that the school has demonstrated that it meets or exceeds the various standards for a legal education set out by the association, which is the largest association of lawyers and legal professionals in the world.

In short, accreditation of any academic program seeks to ensure that the program is actually teaching students what they will need to know in order to be competent in their discipline after graduation.

Attending an ABA-accredited online law school means that you can be sure you’re getting a valuable, formal, viable legal education that will properly prepare you to function in a professional legal context. This is how you can be sure that you’re not getting a ‘scam’ education from an online program that’s just trying to take advantage of you and take your money.

The ABA’s standards for accreditation are rigorous, and it’s the only accrediting body for law schools in the United States. It doesn’t have regional jurisdiction — it covers the entire country. There are currently around 200 ABA-accredited law schools in the United States, and the number with accredited online programs has grown steadily over the past several years.

A note on bar exam eligibility: in most states, graduation from an ABA-accredited law school is required to sit for the bar exam. A small number of states — California being the notable exception — allow graduates of state-accredited but non-ABA-accredited schools to sit. If you intend to practice law in most states, ABA accreditation is non-negotiable.

A Note on the Data

All admissions and bar passage data referenced below comes from publicly available data, U.S. News and World Report reporting, and ABA-required 509 disclosures. Program details come from the universities themselves. Bar passage rates reflect the most recently available cohort data. Tuition figures are approximate and subject to annual change — always verify current tuition directly with the institution before making financial decisions.

In the school entries below:

• Programs marked (+) offer fully online options (programs may have optional residential components); all others are hybrid programs requiring some in-person attendance.
• Programs marked (*) offer both full-time and part-time enrollment options; all others are part-time only.

ABA-Accredited Online Law Schools (2026)

Southwestern Law School (*+)

Acceptance Rate	49.9%
Tuition	$58,537 full-time; $39,042 part-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #43 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.17–3.63
LSAT (25th–75th)	152–158
Bar Passage Rate	94.1% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Fully online (*+); full-time and part-time tracks

Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles holds a significant distinction: it launched the first full-time online J.D. program in the United States. The program is 100 percent online with both full-time and part-time tracks. Courses are offered asynchronously, with optional Zoom sessions to give you maximum scheduling flexibility. The program has developed particular strength in Intellectual Property Law, Dispute Resolution, and Clinical Training — meaningful differentiators for students targeting those practice areas.

St. Mary’s University School of Law (+)

Acceptance Rate	35.9%
Tuition	$14,496 part-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #37 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.04–3.65
LSAT (25th–75th)	150–156
Bar Passage Rate	87% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Fully online (+); part-time only; limited enrollment

St. Mary’s holds another historically significant distinction: theirs was the first fully online, ABA-accredited J.D. in the United States. The program maintains limited enrollment — which means students are able to form closer bonds and networks than in larger cohorts — and all faculty are certified to teach online. St. Mary’s is ranked in the top 15 nationally for Trial Advocacy by U.S. News, which is a concrete differentiator for students interested in litigation. The program’s accessible price point relative to other ABA-accredited options makes it worth a close look for cost-conscious students.

Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law (+)

Acceptance Rate	68.3%
Tuition	$33,960 full-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked
GPA (25th–75th)	3.04–3.73
LSAT (25th–75th)	144–152
Bar Passage Rate	89.8% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Fully online (+); no residency requirements

Ohio Northern’s is one of the few fully online ABA-accredited J.D. programs with no residency requirements at all — no campus visits, no in-person intensives, nothing. For students whose geographic or logistical constraints make even occasional campus travel impractical, ONU’s program is one of the most genuinely flexible options available. Students can also participate virtually in 20+ student organizations including Law Review, Moot Court, and Trial Team, which means the co-curricular development that builds a legal resume is accessible fully remotely as well.

Cleveland State University College of Law (+)

Acceptance Rate	35.9%
Tuition	~$106,000 total program cost (3.3 years)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #42 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.00–3.72
LSAT (25th–75th)	152–157
Bar Passage Rate	90% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Fully online (+); part-time; optional on-campus opportunities

Cleveland State’s fully remote, part-time online J.D. has zero in-person residency or visitation requirements — the program is entirely remote. There are optional on-campus opportunities if students want them, but nothing is mandatory. The school ranks well for Health Care Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Legal Writing. The cohort is kept deliberately small, which allows students to build closer networks within their class. The total program cost is published upfront, which makes financial planning more straightforward than at institutions that only publish per-credit or per-year tuition.

Case Western Reserve University School of Law (+)

Acceptance Rate	41.8%
Tuition	$61,124 full-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Top 100
GPA (25th–75th)	3.45–3.84
LSAT (25th–75th)	156–162
Bar Passage Rate	93.8% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Fully online (+)

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve is the strongest research university brand on this list of online programs. Case Western’s law school is best known for International Law, Healthcare Law, and Environmental Law — three areas with robust career pipelines. The school’s higher LSAT and GPA ranges reflect its more selective admissions, and its 93.8 percent ultimate bar passage rate is among the strongest on this list. For students who want both online accessibility and a top-100 law school credential, Case Western is the most prominent option available.

Albany Law School

Acceptance Rate	54.9%
Tuition	$54,852 full-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked
GPA (25th–75th)	3.22–3.68
LSAT (25th–75th)	152–157
Bar Passage Rate	89.3% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; synchronous + asynchronous; one in-person residency per year

Albany’s Flex J.D. is notable for offering specializations that most online programs simply don’t have: Business Law, Environmental Law, Government Law and Public Service, and Social Justice and Public Interest. If you have a clear sense of which area of law you want to practice, being able to specialize starting from your J.D. is a genuine differentiator. The program combines synchronous and asynchronous classes, which means you get accountability and flexibility in roughly equal measure. Students graduate in 3 years and 3 months with one in-person residency required each year.

Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law

Acceptance Rate	34.3%
Tuition	$55,500 full-time; $42,914 part-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Top 100; #39 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.20–3.75
LSAT (25th–75th)	153–158
Bar Passage Rate	91.5% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid

Duquesne’s Kline School of Law is highly regarded for Legal Writing, Trial Advocacy, and Health Care Law — three areas that translate directly to employment. The school’s part-time tuition rate is notably lower than its full-time rate, making it worth evaluating whether the part-time track works with your timeline. Located in Pittsburgh, Duquesne also has strong regional employer connections in Pennsylvania’s legal market.

University of Dayton School of Law

Acceptance Rate	34.3%
Tuition	$19,850 full-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #32 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.00–3.72
LSAT (25th–75th)	152–157
Bar Passage Rate	90% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; weekly live online classes + in-person ‘Get REAL’ intensives

Dayton’s online J.D. has one of the lower tuition rates on this list, which is worth noting. Students attend weekly live, online classes, complete interactive online coursework, and visit the school in-person for what the program calls ‘Get REAL’ intensives — practical, immersive experiences that translate classroom learning into applied skills. The combination of live classes and in-person intensives creates more structural accountability than a purely asynchronous program, which some students find helps with completion.

University of Hawai’i William S. Richardson School of Law (+)

Acceptance Rate	34.3%
Tuition	$23,164 in-state / $46,588 out-of-state, full-time; $19,432 in-state / $38,952 out-of-state, part-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #23 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.27–3.79
LSAT (25th–75th)	145–160
Bar Passage Rate	84.3% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Fully online (+); asynchronous or blended synchronous options; 4-year part-time design

The University of Hawai’i Manoa’s Online JD Flex is a part-time program designed to be completed in four years. Students can choose between blended synchronous or completely asynchronous options depending on their scheduling needs. The curriculum is 100% online and includes lectures, seminars, and small group discussions in a Socratic classroom format. Richardson’s program is particularly strong in Environmental Law, International Law, and Legal Writing — areas that align naturally with Hawaii’s geographic and policy context. In-state tuition makes this program especially compelling for Hawaii residents.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law

Acceptance Rate	52.2%
Tuition	$46,063 full-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked
GPA (25th–75th)	3.14–3.75
LSAT (25th–75th)	148–153
Bar Passage Rate	89.6% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; approximately two-thirds online; no more than two weekends per semester on campus; fourth year fully online

Lincoln Memorial University’s program is about two-thirds online, with students attending on-campus for no more than two weekends per semester in the first three years. The fourth year is entirely online. Sessions are designed to be asynchronous, which means students can schedule their work how and when they want within each term. LMU’s more accessible LSAT range makes it a realistic option for students who are strong candidates but not targeting the most selective schools on this list.

Mitchell Hamline School of Law (+)

Acceptance Rate	67.4%
Tuition	$52,620 full-time; $38,280 part-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked
GPA (25th–75th)	2.87–3.55
LSAT (25th–75th)	149–155
Bar Passage Rate	85% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; Hybrid, Executive, and Weekend offerings; flexible in-person requirements

 

Mitchell Hamline offers three distinct program formats — Hybrid, Executive, and Weekend — giving students more structural flexibility than most law schools on this list. The online program can be completed in four years but has an accelerated three-year path. Courses are held asynchronously. Mitchell Hamline graduates are eligible to sit for the bar in all 50 states. The school also runs a notable ‘Prison to Law Pipeline’ initiative, which reflects its broader commitment to access and inclusion in legal education.

University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

Acceptance Rate	57.4%
Tuition	$52,620 full-time; $40,320 part-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #52 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.05–3.65
LSAT (25th–75th)	151–159
Bar Passage Rate	95.4% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; minimal on-campus full-immersion periods

UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law has one of the highest ultimate bar passage rates on this list at 95.4 percent, which is a meaningful signal of program quality. The school’s particular distinction is its focus on Intellectual Property, Technology, and Information Law — the program was designed with IP and technology professionals specifically in mind and builds on UNH’s nationally recognized IP law program and faculty. For students targeting IP, tech, or patent law careers, this specialization is hard to find elsewhere in an online J.D. format.

Northeastern University School of Law

Acceptance Rate	57.4%
Tuition	$45,300 full-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #52 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.05–3.65
LSAT (25th–75th)	151–159
Bar Passage Rate	95.4% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; primarily online; limited campus visits; 4-year part-time design

Northeastern’s FlexJD is an ABA-accredited, primarily online, part-time program designed specifically for working professionals. The school’s signature Cooperative Legal Education Program gives students nearly a year of full-time work experience built into the degree — a meaningful differentiator for students who want practical legal experience alongside their coursework. Elective tracks include intellectual property, international law, and public health law. With limited campus visits required, students earn their degree part-time in four years while maintaining their current employment. Northeastern’s Boston location and co-op network are strong assets for students targeting the Northeast legal market.

Seattle University School of Law

Acceptance Rate	52.3%
Tuition	$58,890 full-time; $1,963 per credit, part-time
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #37 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.14–3.71
LSAT (25th–75th)	152–160
Bar Passage Rate	93.2% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; online with limited campus visits

Perhaps it’s fitting that a school like Seattle University would create a Flex JD program with a hybrid online format to meet the needs of students with work and family commitments. The school, after all, has a faculty oriented toward social justice, aimed at cultivating lawyers who are committed to justice, dignity, and equity. Its 93.2 percent ultimate bar passage rate is strong, and the per-credit part-time option allows students to calibrate their pace and cost to their actual situation.

South Texas College of Law Houston

Acceptance Rate	44%
Tuition	$27,740 part-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #48 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.02–3.59
LSAT (25th–75th)	151–156
Bar Passage Rate	90.3% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; one in-person residency per academic year; remaining coursework online

South Texas College of Law Houston’s part-time J.D. allows students to pursue their education either online or on-campus, with one in-person residency required at the beginning of each academic year. The remaining coursework is delivered online. STCL is nationally ranked in the top 10 for Trial Advocacy and top 20 for Dispute Resolution — specialized rankings that matter if you’re targeting litigation or ADR careers. At $27,740 per year for part-time, it’s also among the more affordable options for a program with that level of practical training recognition.

Suffolk University Law School (*)

Acceptance Rate	64.3%
Tuition	$57,748 full-time; $43,216 part-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked; #26 Part-time
GPA (25th–75th)	3.33–3.72
LSAT (25th–75th)	150–158
Bar Passage Rate	86.2% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; first year (30 credits) in-person in Boston; upper-level courses mix online and in-person

Suffolk’s Hybrid JD Degree requires the entire first-year curriculum — 30 credits, 10 classes — to be delivered in-person in Boston. After that, students can pursue a mix of in-person and online classes for upper-level work. There’s a built-in academic accountability mechanism worth noting: students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 to enroll for online courses. This means Suffolk’s hybrid structure is particularly supportive — students can’t make the financial investment and simply fall off when the online portion begins. Both full-time and part-time tracks are available.

Syracuse University College of Law (*)

Acceptance Rate	64.3%
Tuition	$62,050 full-time (per year)
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked
GPA (25th–75th)	3.1–3.8
LSAT (25th–75th)	154–160
Bar Passage Rate	92% (ultimate passage rate)
Format	Hybrid; combination of live and self-paced online courses; six on-campus residencies

Syracuse’s JDinteractive (JDi) program has been recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the best online J.D. programs in the country. Students can attend year-round to finish the degree in three or four years, or the programming can be spaced out over more years to accommodate diverse students’ needs. Classes are taught by the same faculty as the in-person program. The combination of live and self-paced classes with six on-campus residencies creates more structure than many hybrid programs — meaningful for students who benefit from regular in-person touchpoints even within an otherwise online format.

Vermont Law and Graduate School

Acceptance Rate	64.3%
Tuition	~$16,130 per semester; ~$1,872 per credit
U.S. News Ranking	Ranked
GPA (25th–75th)	2.8–3.62
LSAT (25th–75th)	148–156
Bar Passage Rate	72.6% (ultimate passage rate — review current data before enrolling)
Format	Hybrid; online classes + three in-person residencies

Vermont’s Online Hybrid JD combines online classes and three in-person residencies to provide the same rigorous education as the in-person J.D. Vermont is nationally ranked in the top five for Environmental Law, and is well-positioned to train students in Food and Agriculture Law, Energy Law, Animal Law, and Restorative Justice — a set of specializations that is genuinely distinctive in the online J.D. market. One important note: Vermont’s ultimate bar passage rate of 72.6% is the lowest on this list and warrants serious attention during your evaluation. Research current bar passage data before enrolling.

Choosing the Right ABA-Accredited Online Law School: What to Look For

Not all of the programs above are going to be the right fit for every student. Here’s a practical framework for evaluating your options:

• Fully online vs. hybrid: If in-person attendance is not possible for you, the fully online programs (marked + above) are your realistic options: Southwestern, St. Mary’s, Ohio Northern, Cleveland State, Case Western, and University of Hawai’i. All others require at least some campus visits.
• Full-time vs. part-time availability: Most programs on this list are part-time only. If you need a full-time option to finish sooner, Southwestern (full-time online), Syracuse, and Suffolk offer full-time tracks.
• Bar passage rate: This is the most direct measure of whether a program is actually preparing students for legal practice. Programs with rates above 90% are performing well. The 72.6% rate at Vermont is worth scrutinizing carefully.
• Specialization: If you have a clear practice area in mind — IP, Environmental, Trial Advocacy, Healthcare — match that to the schools ranked for those areas rather than choosing on general prestige alone.
• Total cost, not per-year cost: Multiply the annual tuition by the expected years of enrollment to get the real number. A $20,000/year program over four years costs $80,000. A $40,000/year program over three years costs $120,000. The per-year figure is not the right comparison.

Additional Resources

• Explore the T14 law schools: T14 Law School Rankings
• See the full list of ABA-accredited programs: Best Law Schools in the U.S.
• Looking for a legal career without a J.D.? See: Best Online Paralegal Certificate Programs
• Interested in a specialized practice area? See: Best Entertainment and Sports Law Schools
• Considering schools in a specific region: Best Law Schools in New York | Best Law Schools in California
• Not sure law school is the right fit? See what other paths look like: 50 Easiest Law Schools to Get Into