Low Cost Law Schools in California
Law school is an expensive investment, with tuition ranging from $30,000-$50,000 in 2009. In an undergraduate curriculum, tuition in public universities is lower compared with private schools, but this is not the case for law schools. Tuition for public law schools in California, such as Berkeley and UCLA, is comparable to tuition at private law schools. Those aspiring to go to law school who can't afford the more expensive schools should look into low-cost law schools.
Public Law School
Compared with Berkeley and UCLA law schools, UC Hastings in 2009 had a lower tuition cost, at $28,500 for in-state students and $39,725 for out-of-state students. UC Hastings, which is in San Francisco, is a renowned public school in California, and it's accredited by the State Bar of California.
Unaccredited Law Schools
Pacific Coast University is a low-cost law school in Southern California. In 2008 it was granted provisional accreditation by the State Bar of California. In 2009 tuition for all students was $4,500 for the academic year. The American College of Law cost $400 per unit, which came to about $10,000 a year. The Pacific West College of Law cost $350 a unit, which also came to about $10,000 a year.
Correspondence Law Schools
Aspiring law students can also enroll in correspondence law schools, which are schools that provide legal education through distance education. The State Bar of California allows students from these schools to take the bar exam. The California School of Law, the Concord Law School and Abraham Lincoln University are some of the correspondence law schools in California. The tuition for these schools ranged from $6,000-$10,000 a year in 2009.
Rural Law Schools
Tuition for rural law schools is cheaper than schools in urban areas or ones with brand names. The tuition for San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis was around $20,000 a year in 2009. The California Northern School of Law in Chico cost $360 per unit, which came to about $8,000 a year.
Evening Schools
Going to law school part time also costs less. The University of Pacific's McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento has an evening program that cost $12,800 per semester in 2009; its day program cost $20,000. The evening program at Southwestern Law school in downtown Los Angeles cost $20,000. Compare that with the day program, which cost $36,800.
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