25 Best Value Schools for Pre-Law 2021

One unique element of the Law and Society Degree at Philadelphia University is the program's Facebook group, an extremely active community for Law and Society majors to discuss everything from current events to abstract legal concepts. This strong sense of community carries through the Law and Society program's Digital Voice publication, which publishes student writing about politics and topical issues in government and the judicial system. Philadelphia University's early acceptance partnership with the Drexel University School of Law also enables Law and Society students to save a year (and a year's worth of tuition!) on their way to obtaining a law degree.

Forget earning a minor or settling for a concentration; students can obtain a comprehensive education through Barry University's full-fledged, top pre-law degree program. Emphasizing writing and communication skills, this major requires students to take courses in Fundamentals of Speech and Rhetorical Analysis in addition to unusual pre-law coursework in subjects like geography and epistemology. Barry is also home to a robust Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law fraternity that provides forums, guest speakers, and other resources for pre-law majors. For example, last year the fraternity organized a trip to the Environmental and Earth Law Summit in Orlando.

Creighton University offers designated pre-law tracks within the College of Arts and Sciences and the Heider School of Business, but that's not what makes it one of the best pre-law programs on this list. Rather, the school's incredibly comprehensive advising program, which includes everything from one-on-one academic consultations to an online application tracking tool, deserves the most praise. This strong support system extends to CU's Pre-Law "Living Learning Community," which combines panel discussions, guest speakers, and tours for a uniquely interactive undergraduate experience. And students interested in staying at Creighton to pursue a J.D. will be glad to hear that they receive special consideration when applying to the CU School of Law.

Champlain College is one of the few programs in this pre-law degree ranking to specifically encourage students to participate in study abroad. The school has campuses in Montreal and Dublin, and many pre-law students jump at the opportunity to gain an international perspective. Champlain also offers a unique combined program that enables students to graduate with two degrees - a Bachelor of Arts in Law and a Master of Science in Mediation & Applied Conflict Studies - in just four years. For students more interested in a J.D. than an M.S., Champlain offers some perks through its close relationship with New York Law School. Students who secure a recommendation from the program director earn automatic admission to NYLS - along with a scholarship and guaranteed housing!

Howard Payne University recommends that students interested in pre-law enroll in its highly selective Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, which admits only 25 students per class. Why? HPU explains that the Honors Academy provides a broad background in logic, writing ability, and philosophy, as well as a strong education in communications and the humanities. In other words, perfect preparation for a law degree. The school's Moot Court course gives enrollment preference to pre-law students and also participates in Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association competitions. The Mock Trial course is even more selective, with enrollment only available to those with instructor permission.

Texas Wesleyan University students interested in a career in law can choose from either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Pre-Law Concentration. The school's Political Science Pre-Law track requires students to take a course in the judicial process and then choose from a set of nine courses that includes subjects like dispute resolution, constitutional law, and legal ethics. TWU also provides a handful of unique interdisciplinary courses exclusively for pre-law students, such as Business Law, Critical and Logical Reasoning, and History of Rhetoric.

"Law from a biblical perspective" is the object of the Prelaw Major at Cedarville University, which provides a classic liberal arts education alongside one of the best pre-law programs with a Christian-based study of contemporary legal systems. The school's degree includes coursework in accounting, history, jurisprudence, logic, political thought, and writing, not to mention opportunities for LSAT prep and local internships. Cedarville has also developed a new D.C. Semester program that pairs pre-law students with a university alumnus in the nation's capital. Through this connection, students receive valuable advice on how best to maintain a spiritual perspective as they pursue careers in a secular field.

The affordable pre-law degree at DeSales University is actually an academic track within the school's History major. Students have significant freedom to pursue their own interests, with only a handful of required courses in American, European, and Comparative History as well as four basic logic and law classes. Pre-law students at DeSales benefit from a strong pre-law advising program and can also join the St. Thomas More Society, a student association that provides networking opportunities among law students and practical lawyers, organizes trips and community service, and even offers law school application prep.

The University of Findlay's Law and Liberal Arts program benefits from the collaboration of all nine of Ohio's law schools as well as articulation agreements with the Ohio Northern University College of Law and Capital University Law School. These tight relationships enable students to move easily from UF's top pre-law program into a graduate law program at one of these two institutions. The school also works with The Washington Center, a D.C.-based non-profit organization that provides students with the opportunity to earn credits for internships and academic seminars in the District of Columbia.

Campbell University thinks a strong foundation in economics is the key to being prepared for law school and points out that economics majors score higher on the LSAT than any other majors at its business school. In that spirit, the affordable pre-law program at Campbell is integrated with the school's Economics degree (and its business school) to provide students easy access to all three subjects. In addition to a set of basic Business Core and Economics Major classes, pre-law students at CU take courses in federal, state, and local government, as well as a basic Introduction to Law class.

Like many of the Christian institutions in this pre-law degree ranking, Fresno Pacific University sees the practice of law as an opportunity to serve society and promote restorative justice. In this spirit, the interdisciplinary coursework for this top pre-law degree includes a unique two-semester Victims, Trauma and Recovery class that covers cycles of violence and the recovery process. Students can also integrate the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities' off-campus American Studies Program in Washington, D.C. — a great opportunity for those interested in entering the political scene with a degree in law.

As its name implies, Oklahoma Christian University is a faith-based institution that weaves a Christian worldview into its B.S. in History/Pre-Law degree program. In addition to critical thinking and research skills, OC Pre-Law students graduate with an understanding of history, an appreciation for religious perspectives, and the ability to apply Christian ethics to their lives. This affordable pre-law program also incorporates coursework in western civilization and American history as well as upper-level history, political science, and literature electives. Through this interdisciplinary curriculum, students are introduced to multiple subjects that also happen to be the most popular majors for law school applicants - potentially providing a double- or even triple-threat advantage during the application process.

The University of Dayton is the only program in this pre-law degree ranking that offers a special Prelaw minor that students can pair with any major. UD's Prelaw program provides a number of standard services like LSAT prep and networking, and the major itself only requires two "core" courses: Symbolic Logic and American Judicial Process. The rest of the coursework covers topics as esoteric as the playwright Tom Stoppard and International Business Finance. This broad mandate gives aspiring lawyers unprecedented flexibility to take the courses that best support their individual goals. And with the support of academic advisors and the school's Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, students will have no trouble tailoring their course load to prepare them as thoroughly as possible for law school.

Those looking for a philosophical education in the history and purpose of law should look closely at the University of Tulsa's Law, Policy, & Society minor. As the name implies, UT's program examines how law can be used as a tool to improve society, and students can pursue coursework in specialized legal fields like American Indian law, climate and the environment, and the Internet. Another advantage of UT's top pre-law degree is its relationship with the school's College of Law. All of the courses in the Law, Policy, & Society minor are a part of the college, meaning that undergraduates can enjoy a rare opportunity to be a part of an actual law school long before they officially attend one as a graduate student.

As a Catholic university, Saint Xavier puts social justice at the heart of its pre-law program. In addition to standard courses in logic, critical thinking, writing, and communication, SXU recommends its pre-law students take liberal arts courses in English, philosophy, history, and psychology. But this curriculum is far from standard; in fact, the school's Mock Trial course prepares students to compete nationally with the SXU Mock Trial Team. With one-on-one pre-law mentoring, LSAT prep opportunities, and a law school application workshop, students graduating from SXU's affordable pre-law program are well-prepared for graduate work in law.

North Michigan University offers one of the most comprehensive programs in this pre-law degree ranking. Political Science majors at NMU can pursue a Pre-Law Minor with required courses in American Government, Judicial Process, and Introduction to Law, which requires a mock trial component. Pre-Law minors can also choose from seven possible electives in a wide variety of law subjects, from contract to probate law. In addition to this robust coursework, students have access to legal internships and mock trial competitions, all of which are organized by the school's pre-law advisors.

The Florida Institute of Technology is one of the few schools in this pre-law degree ranking to offer a special Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with an emphasis in Prelaw. This affordable program provides a solid foundation in humanities to prepare students to enter law school, with advanced coursework in related liberal arts subjects (such as psychology) and a research component. But the learning doesn't end in the classroom; FIT's pre-law degree also includes internships at local law offices, networking programs, and a Prelaw Advisory Group made up of working attorneys who advise and guide FIT students.

The Department of History & Contemporary Society at Bethel College offers courses in political science, criminal justice, history, social studies, sociology, and the humanities, many of which are ideal for a student considering law school. Bethel's Christian orientation is an important element of this department. This religious foundation is evident in classes such as Exploring the Christian Faith and both New and Old Testament Literature. Although the school no longer offers a designated pre-law major, Bethel's wealth of courses in logic, criminal justice, and philosophy means the school still offers one of the top pre-law programs.

Denison's approach to Pre-law is to provide its students with as much information as possible to help guide their decisions. The school encourages Pre-Law students to take internships at law firms, meet with representatives from law schools who visit campus, and attend career panels with Denison alumni who have gone onto law school or have careers in the field. Denison's Career Exploration & Development Center has even developed a timetable to guide its students through the process of taking the LSAT and applying to law schools. And as a bonus, Denison offers a need-based pre-law scholarship for students who are working toward this top pre-law degree.

The affordable Pre-Law Program at Emmanuel College in Boston is supervised by the school's Pre-Law Advisory Committee (PLAC), which works with every student to design a curriculum that fits with his or her interests. The school also offers a set of courses the PLAC recommends to prepare its students for both the LSAT and a career in law. For instance, the Political Science department provides a number of introductory law courses in topics like Constitutional Law, while the Philosophy Department's Symbolic Logic and Critical Thinking classes should be useful for those tricky LSAT questions.