10 Best Pre-Law Undergraduate Programs

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Summary: What are the best pre-law programs in the country?

Law schools don’t have pre-requisite courses needed to get in, which means you can major in anything before applying. The Law School Admissions Council and U.S. News and World Report compiled data on majors and law school admissions, and they found that humanities such as English or science majors such as Physics tended to fare better than pre-law/legal studies majors. Pre-law students tended to score lower on the LSAT too, and admissions committees viewed that major as easier than subjects like Chemistry or Engineering.

  

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So is it worth it as an undergraduate to study pre-law or legal studies? Conventional wisdom says “no.” However, Best Value Schools recently examined pre-law programs around the country, taking in the criticism of the major, and it determined the top schools based on “programs that are comprehensive, connected, and of course, affordable! Although pre-law degrees come in all shapes and sizes, we placed emphasis on schools that have retained full-fledged, well-established programs over those that only offer minors or merely a “suggested course list.” The website also factored in how active the chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law fraternity, was on campus as well as their ranking on the ABA list of top law school feeders.

So with that all in mind, here are the universities with the best pre-law or legal studies programs.

10. Hamline University

Hamline University offers a major and a minor in Legal Studies, along with a dual major offering in the form of a Legal Studies and Women’s Studies degree. Besides offering a strong interdisciplinary program, Hamline has an active Phi Alpha Delta chapter and a partnership with Mitchell Hamline School of Law. This law school partnership allows pre-law undergraduates access to a law library, conferences, and court visits.

9. Wilmington University

The legal studies program at Wilmington University includes courses such as Cyberlaw, Environmental Law, and Food & Drug Law and Policy. The school even offers an LSAT Preparation course. Even better for undergraduates, however, is the Wilmington Legal Studies Advisory Board, which is made up of legal professionals that are there to guide and improve the pre-law degree. The Board offers internship and job opportunities and hosts special events. According to Best Value Schools, the cost of this program is approximately $13,000 a year.

8. Ball State University

Ball State University offers two tracks for Legal Studies students–Business Law or Public Law. Both programs offer a foundation in legal studies, and appeal to people who either want to work in a corporate environment or the government. The net price per year is $12,800.

7.  University of Utah

The University of Utah distinguishes itself by offering a learning community called “LEAP.” LEAP allows students to take a sequence of courses with the same cohort and professor, which allows them to better get to know other pre-law majors and receive mentorship. During students’ third year of study, they are allowed to take a specialized Pre-Law Writing class, which helps them study for the LSAT and write law school application essays.

6. Utah State University

Utah State University’s Pre-Law degree is a part of the Economics department. This means that students are exposed to more math courses than most other pre-law tracks, and as studies have shown math and science majors tend to excel on the LSAT.

5. CUNY City College

At only $7,125/a year, CUNY City College is an affordable choice for pre-law students. The curriculum is a mix of economics, English, philosophy, and political science courses; and it emphasizes critical thinking and sharp decision-making skills.

4. University of Maryland

The University of Maryland has a Pre-Law Advising Office within the Letters & Sciences Department, and the Advising Office provides a home base for pre-law activities and guidance. The Advisors provide students with class recommendations, internship connections, and one-on-one academic and career advising. During the third year, exceptional students may opt to apply to law schools, and if they are accepted, they can enter law school prior to receiving their diploma.

3. Northern Arizona University

Like other schools on the list, Northern Arizona University has an advisory program, but NAU has an edge because their advisors are mostly lawyers. These advisors help students choose relevant courses and offer mentoring and professional guidance. Additionally, NAU offers two pre-law student scholarships and has a very active Phi Alpha Delta chapter.

2. Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern University offers a B.S. degree in Legal Studies as well as a 12-credit Pre-Law Track. This degree is interdisciplinary and is intended for future law school students. Additionally, the school offers a variety of law school prep resources, which includes seminars on how to apply and get accepted into top law schools.

1. Michigan State University

Best Law Schools said that Michigan State University deserves the top spot because it is “affordable, comprehensive, and part of one of the largest and most established universities in the country.” MSU has over 50,000 students and 5,300 faculty and a wealth of resources. The Pre-Law track is a part of the Political Science department, and students also have access to Phi Alpha Delta and a Pre-Law Society that provides LSAT prep and law school application assistance.

Source: Best Value Schools

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• Related: 2017 U.S. News Best Law Schools List 

What do you think of the Pre-Law degree? Let us know in the comments below.