Top 15 Cheapest Law Schools In California 2024

· Updated June 28, 2024 · 8 minutes · by Kamerpower ·

Top 15 Cheapest Law Schools In California. To become a Lawyer, you need to be focused, diligent, smart, and creative. Very importantly, you need to attend law school. These top 15 cheapest and Best Law schools in California will be top-notch because of the prestige that comes with California. 

Amongst other criteria for being a lawyer; is entry and graduation from a certified law school. That is why California has been a great city has not refrained from ensuring that it has its gilts a plethora of law schools. Most times, we hear our neighbours and friends boast about their kids who get enlisted into law schools. As a kid, I often questioned why it was necessary to have a separate school that every bachelor degree holder of Law must attend in order to be called to bar.

What are the Cheapest Law Schools in California?

Below are the list of Best cheapest law schools in California. 

1. Western State University.
2. University of California Berkeley.
3. Chapman University.
4. University of San Diego.
5. University of California Hastings
6. University of California Los Angeles.
7. University of California Davis
8. Santa Clara University
9. University of San Francisco
10. University of La Verne College of Law
11. Standford University
12. Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
13. Golden State University.
14. Berkeley School of Law.
15. Hastings College of the Law.

Are there online law school programs in California?

There are host of schools carry out online programs for candidates interested in studying law. These online programs enable students to set schedules which are suitable for them. In this way, they meet up with assignments and classes.

These online law schools are;

• Pepperdine University School of Law.
• University of Southern California – USC Gould School of Law.

What is a Law School?

A law school is a school that focuses on providing legal education to students. It usually entails several aspects of legal education that qualify a student to practice law. It can be also stated as an institution with a specialization of training students in matters regarding legal education. It usually involves various parts of the training that qualify a student to be a lawyer.

Are there scholarships to study law in California?

Considering the high cost of studying law in California, the government and private organization have intervened. They have come up with a host of scholarships in which you can choose to help you study law. You can get access to these scholarships opportunities here.

How long does it take to study law?

The time frames to for law to be studied vary as some countries add the time spent on the diploma program while others capture time spent on the degree program plus law school.

The List of Cheapest Law Schools in California

1. Chapman University

Chapman University possesses 110 areas of study (49 majors and 61 minors), and encompasses ten schools and colleges. The Chapman University School of Law is located in Kennedy Hall. Law degrees offered include the Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees in various specialities.

2. University of California Davis

This University is a public research university adjacent to Davis, California. It has the third-largest enrollment in the system after UCLA and UC Berkeley. The law school of the University has been recognized as one of the exceptional schools and is regarded as one of the cheapest law schools in California.

3. Golden State University

The law school is one of the professional graduate schools of Golden Gate University. Therefore, it is located in downtown San Francisco, California and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association. Golden State University offers a first degree in law (J.D.) and first graduate degrees in law (L.L.M., and doctoral S.J.D.) programs in intellectual property, environmental law, taxation, U.S. legal studies and international law.

4. Western State University

Western University is a public university that offers a full complement of degrees in the technical fields of computer science and engineering. An admission rate of 92% and a graduation of 36% make it one of the cheapest law schools in California where you can easily admitted to study. They offer over 100 undergraduate areas of study and seven graduate areas of study including law and engineering.

5. Standford University

Standford University is a private research university in Stanford, California. The school is known for its academic achievements, wealth, close proximity to Silicon Valley. This University is the best cheapest law schools in California. However, this doesn’t equate to a bad system but an added encouragement for students who wish to study.

6. University of La Verne College of Law – Canada

University of La Verne College of Law offers the Juris Doctor (JD) law degree. The program requires 88 credits which can be completed on a full-time basis over 3 years or on a part-time basis over 4 years. The school also offers two dual degree programs in conjunction with the University of La Verne College of Business and Public Management, the Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA) and Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA).

7. University of San Francisco

The University is located between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate Park. USC records a graduation rate of 70% and an acceptance rate of 71%. They offer more than 230 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and certificate programs on its main Hilltop Campus. USF also offers programs at several additional campuses.

8. Thomas Jefferson School of Law

This school accredited by the American Bar Association but there have been threats to remove it. The law school offers Master of Laws (LL.M.), Master of Science of Law (M.S.L) and JSD “Doctor of Laws or Juridical Science” degrees

9. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California and the west coast of the United States. Santa Clara University offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees through its six colleges, the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education and Counseling Psychology, Leavey School of Business, School of Engineering, Jesuit School of Theology, and School of Law. The law school offers the Juris Doctor (J.D.) law degree. 

10. University of California Hastings

This University is a public law school located in San Francisco, California. It became one of the first law schools to be instituted in the United States. This institution stands out as one of the affiliated law schools that doesn’t share a campus with other postgraduate and undergraduate programs run by the institution.

11. University of San Diego School of Law

University of San Diego is listed among the cheapest law schools in California. The school started as San Diego College for Women and San Diego University. The school has grown to comprise nine undergraduate and graduate schools, including the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and School of Law.

12. University of California Berkeley School of Law

To get admitted into UC Berkeley, you must pass an entry-level writing requirement before enrollment (typically fulfilled by minimum scores on standardized admissions exams such as the SAT or ACT). In addition, you must complete coursework on “American History and Institutions” before or after enrollment by taking an introductory class.

13. Southwestern Law School

This is the foremost of the cheapest law schools in California we will be discussing. Southwestern Law School is a law school in Los Angeles, California and has a total of 821 students. Southwestern Law School’s tuition and fees for 2021 are $27,858. The enrolled students’ average GPA is 3.3, and their average LSAT score is 153. 

14. University of California Los Angeles

The next on our list of cheapest law schools in California – Los Angeles is home to the University of California. It is one of the oldest campuses in southern California. As long as the basic prerequisites are met, it has a high acceptance rate. Because of legislative restrictions, the admission rate varies at this institution. It is, nonetheless, one of California’s premier institutions, with a low tuition rate.

15. Pepperdine University School of Law

The next again on our list of cheapest law schools in California. Pepperdine University School of Law is a law school in Malibu, California, and has a total of 1,009 students. Pepperdine University School of Law’s tuition and fees for 2021 are $57,560. The enrolled students’ average GPA is 3.66, and their average LSAT score is 161. 

What is the Cost of Studying Law in California?

Depending on your budget, you can get access to some of the cheapest law schools in California. If you wish to study law in California you need a have a huge budget as most of the schools don’t come cheap. The level of training combined with practicality make them one of the exceptional law schools in the country.

If you wish to attend a law school in California you’ll be required to pay tuition between $20,000-$60,000 per year. On the contrary, you can avoid paying such tuition if you have a scholarship to your name which is available.

How Do I Get into Law School?

You can get into law school when you pass the exams that will be taken after successful completion of your bachelor’s degree programs. However, many institutions or countries will give you direct access to law school while others will give you the law school test as stated earlier.

Recommendation 

• Top 10 Law School Requirements USA
• 20 Best Law School In The World For You
• 22 Easiest Law Schools To Get Into With lowest GPA
• Is A Legal Assistant The Same As A Paralegal?