5 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Legal Studies
Updated July 30, 2021 | BestCollegeReviews.org Staff
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Studying legal studies in college provides several opportunities across the job market. Many with a degree in this discipline go on to become paralegals or lawyers, and employment of both of these is expected to grow between now and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For lawyers, who had a median pay of $120,910 per year in 2018, the job market is likely to grow by eight percent in that time. For paralegals, this rate is 15%, which is much faster than the average for all professions.
When considering which Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies might be the best fit, it is important to consider several characteristics of these programs. First, does the program offer any specializations or concentrations? These could range from international law to advocacy to business, and they provide additional credentials that can be helpful when starting a career or going onto graduate school.
Additionally, if one wishes to become a paralegal, it is important to see if the program is an American Bar Association-approved degree. This accreditation, according to the ABA, is designed to foster high-quality paralegal education and training. Finally, for students who want to become lawyers, many programs also offer 3+3 or 3+4 programs that allow for early admission into law school. That being said, start your search with one of the 5 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Legal Studies 2020!
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Methodology
Best College Reviews provides degree rankings, such as the 15 Best Bachelor Degrees in Journalism 2020, from carefully researched data sets published from government and nonprofit organizations across the United States. Five primary factors affect how we rank degrees:
- 25% Student Satisfaction
- 30% Earning Potential
- 15% Retention Data
- 20% Affordability
- 10% Acceptance Rates
For an in-depth breakdown of how we calculate each ranking, check out our Methodology page.
BERKELEY, CA
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LEGAL STUDIES
Website | Score: 100.00
The No. 1 Best Bachelor’s in Legal Studies 2020 goes to the University of California, Berkeley’s Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies. In this program, students think critically about the interactions of the law with all aspects of society. Thirty-two units of legal studies courses are required in this program, and students take courses including Theories of Justice, The Supreme Court and Public Policy, and Law, Politics and Society. For those who are interested in research, there is also the opportunity to do a thesis or an independent study, and then take part in the California Legal Studies Journal or the Undergraduate Legal Studies Research Conference.
Net Price: $18,178
PITTSBURGH, PA
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LEGAL STUDIES
Website | Score: 92.25
The University of Pittsburgh brings together social sciences with the law in its Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies. This program prepares students for professions in banking, advocacy, corporate sales, research, human resources, and the government. It requires 120 credits of coursework for completion, and students can choose from electives with titles like Psychology and the Law, Sex, Law, and Marriage, Law, Literature, and Cinema, and Emerging Issues in legal and Social Policy. They also have the option to complete an independent study. Pitt also has an Early Admission Option for Graduate Study in which students can begin their graduate work early in programs in public health, international affair, and law.
Net Price: $22,848
NEW ORLEANS, LA
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LEGAL STUDIES
Website | Score: 89.16
Tulane University offers one of the oldest American Bar Association-approved Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies programs in the region. This degree requires 120 credits and prepares students for work in the legal field as well as for in human resources, insurance, and others. Some of the courses in this program include Legal Research, Litigation, Legal Technology, and Legal Writing. Students’ coursework all comes together in a practicum that includes an internship and discussion of career skills and networking that prepares them for graduation. This degree can also be finished wither on campus or through a combination of on-campus and online courses.
Net Price: $33,886
ORLANDO, FL
BACHELOR OF ARTS OR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN LEGAL STUDIES
Website | Score: 89.16
The University of Central Florida allows students to finish either a Bachelor of Arts or Science in Legal Studies. The difference between either degree lies in the necessity of a foreign language requirement in the BA program. Students can also complete concentrations in Law and Policy, Advocacy, and Law and Business. In total, 120 credits are required for graduation. They can also take advantage of 3+3 Accelerated Law Programs that partner with Touro College Law Center, Barry University School of Law, and Florida State University College of Law. Students can also get involved with Mock Trial and Moot Court.
Net Price: $15,341
MUNCIE, IN
BACHELOR OF ARTS OR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN LEGAL STUDIES
Website | Score: 86.46
Ball State University offers students the opportunity to complete either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. They also have the option to choose between a concentration in Public Law or Business. Depending on which of these a student opts for, the degree can range from 69-72 credits of legal studies coursework required for graduation. Some of these courses include Intergovernmental Conflict and Cooperation, Environmental Law and Policy, and Women and Politics. Graduates of this program have gone onto law school at Michigan State, Indiana University, the University of Dayton, and Notre Dame University.
Net Price: $13,535