If you’re thinking about a career as a paralegal, getting an online paralegal degree may be right for you. You can pursue an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or even a Master’s degree online and study at your convenience from any location. The coursework will be just as challenging as what you would encounter in a classroom, and you get the benefit of being able to study at times that fits your schedule, meaning you have the opportunity to continue working full time and maintain other responsibilities.
Our Ranking of Online Paralegal Degree Programs
Our goal in selecting these paralegal degree programs is to represent a range of the top educational opportunities for individuals in this field. We only selected programs offered by accredited institutions, and we gave preference to programs offering students a variety of coursework options. Our hope is that you use this ranking as a starting point for your own research in finding the programs that will work best for your needs.
#1 Rasmussen College
Executive Summary
Rasmussen College has been offering degree programs for over 110 years. The school is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. College Prowler gives Rasmussen top rating in many key categories, particularly the areas of academic flexibility, online course options, and online professor communication.
Tuition
Tuition is $299.00-$395.00 per course, depending on the course level, placing it among the cheapest online paralegal degree programs available anywhere.
Unique Features
The coursework in the Associate’s degree program prepares students to take the National Certified Legal Assistant/Paralegal Examination (CLA/CP Exam) after graduation. Courses include Computer Applications and Business Systems Concepts, Criminal Law and Procedures: Crime and the Courtroom, Paralegal Ethics, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, and more.
#2 Hodges University
Executive Summary
Hodges University was founded in 1990 and is a well-respected school in Florida. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.
Tuition
Tuition is $490.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
All credits from the Associate in Paralegal Studies degree program may be transferred toward the Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies. Courses in the paralegal degree program include Civil Procedure, Torts, Contracts, Property, Legal Research and Writing, Family Law, Bankruptcy, Environmental Law, and more.
#3 Liberty University
Executive Summary
Liberty University is a private Christian university. It has been training “champions for Christ” since 1971 and is accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools. Liberty was ranked 65th on U.S. News & World Report in the Best Colleges of Regional Universities in the South. Approximately 80,000 students are enrolled in their online degree programs.
Tuition
Tuition is $340.00 per credit hour, placing Liberty’s among the most affordable online paralegal degree programs in this ranking.
Unique Features
The Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies online program will help students develop the skills required to perform title searches, analyze issues from a moral and Biblical perspective, and write depositions. Liberty lists potential career fields for graduates as including paralegal, legal assistant, claims adjuster, law clerk, occupational health and safety specialist, and title examiner or researcher.
#4 Purdue University Global
Executive Summary
Purdue University Global has been offering education programs since 1937. New students can enroll in a program and try it for three weeks before they are required to pay any tuition. PUG plan enrolls over 66,000 students in online and campus-based programs.
Tuition
Tuition is $371.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
Students complete an internship as one of the requirements for graduation. Graduates are eligible to write the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam. The online associate’s paralegal degree can be completed in as little as 12 months.
Courses
Courses include civil litigation, introduction to legal research, introduction to legal analysis and writing, legal ethics, and more.
#5 The George Washington University
Executive Summary
GW was founded in 1821 and is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. It is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Tuition
Graduate students pay $1,020.00 per credit hour.
Unique Features
The Master of Professional Studies – Paralegal Studies degree focuses on giving students the skills they need to conduct legal research. The curriculum includes courses in legal ethics, intellectual property law, international law, and government law.
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While we do our best to provide up-to-date information about an institution’s accreditation status, we urge you to verify this information for yourself. Accredited institutions hold themselves to a higher standard of performance than non-accredited institutions. This concludes our ranking of top online paralegal degree programs.
Related Ranking: The 19 Cheapest ABA Approved Online Paralegal Programs
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