Options that work with your lifestyle and your location
Mitchell Hamline’s J.D. degree program offers three tracks to that law degree. You can take classes full and part time during the week, or earn your J.D. through our blended online/in-person option.
Compare your enrollment options
| Full Time | Part Time | Blended Learning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program type | Full time, on campus |
Part time, on campus |
Part time, on campus/online |
| Classes per semester | 4–5 (4 in first year) |
3–4 | 3–4 (in first four semesters) |
| Schedule | Classes meet Monday through Friday—typically between 9 am and 4 pm. After the first semester, you can switch between full- and part-time programs. |
Choose day or evening classes. During the first year, evening classes meet at 6 pm four nights per week Monday through Thursday. After the first semester, you can switch between full- and part-time programs. |
Come to campus twice per semester in the first four semesters. After that you may come to campus once per semester, or depending on your course selection, some semesters not at all. |
| Typical length of program | 3 years | 3–4 years | 3–4 years |
| Typical days on campus | Four–five days/week | In the first year, four nights/week. After that, four-five nights/week | Three weeks + one long weekend per year for first two years. Varies after that. |
| Experiential learning | Access to clinics, externships, mentoring programs, journals, and public service opportunities | Access to clinics, externships, mentoring programs, journals, and public service opportunities | Access to externships, mentoring programs, journals, and public service opportunities |
| Ability to work full- or part-time | Can work full time, but recommend no more than 20 hours a week. | Can work full time. | Can work full time. |
| Mix of students | Each of our enrollment options offer flexibility and features that appeal to a wide mix of students. Your classmates may include: | ||
| Students from all walks of life who want to earn their J.D.s in three years | Students who have full-time jobs, children, or other obligations in addition to law school | Students from all over the country who appreciate the flexibility that these enrollment options offer | |
| Tuition (2024–25) |
$26,715/semester | $19,290/semester | $19,290/semester |
| Scholarships | Scholarships range in value from 15 percent of tuition to 100 percent of tuition. | Scholarships range in value from 15 percent of tuition to 100 percent of tuition. | Scholarships range in value from ten percent to 100 percent of tuition. |
| Apply now, start … | Aug 2024 | Aug 2024 | Aug 2024 |
| Apply now, graduate … | May 2027 | Jan or May 2028 |
May 2027 or May 2028 |
| Application deadline | July 15, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | July 15, 2024 |
Full-time program
Full-time students take four courses each semester for 14 credits. Classes meet Monday through Friday between 9 am and 4 pm. Full-time students typically complete the degree in three years.
For added flexibility, students in our full-time and part-time weekday enrollment options have the ability to move freely between full-time and part-time enrollment at each semester break. Upper-level students are able to enroll in courses during the day and evening.
Part-time options
Part time, in person
Part-time students can choose from day and evening weekday classes. Most part-time students complete the degree in four years.
Blended learning
A lower-residency enrollment option that builds on our experience offering the pioneering HYBRID J.D.. Come to campus twice per semester, or less, and spend the rest of the time doing your coursework online. Our case study workshops are designed to develop emerging workplace skills through in-depth explorations of how lawyers have used legal training to creatively address complex socioeconomic, public policy, and justice system problems. You’ll earn your degree in four years or less, and you’ll be eligible to sit for the bar exam in every state—including New York.
Mitchell Hamline was the first ABA-approved law school to receive an ABA variance to offer a half on-campus/half online J.D. program—known as the HYBRID J.D. With changes in ABA requirements, we can now offer our refined blend of two interrelated elements: intensive in-person experiential learning and online coursework to help more students study the law from anywhere in the world.
What to expect
- Spend an average of 2 to 3 hours weekly per credit studying outside of class.
- A total of 86 credits are required for graduation. All students must complete their degree within seven years of initial enrollment.
- Mitchell Hamline does not limit the number of hours a student may work. However, due to the significant demands of law school, Mitchell Hamline faculty caution full-time law students against working outside of the law school more than 20 hours a week during the academic year. If you plan to work more than 20 hours a week, you should consider attending Mitchell Hamline part time.