2027 American University vs. DePaul: Comparing Online MLS Programs

A Master of Legal Studies (MLS) is a graduate degree designed primarily for people who need to understand legal rules in their work but do not plan to become attorneys. Coursework may cover how to interpret regulations, identify legal risks, work with counsel, and communicate about legal issues. "Online" describes where instruction is delivered; it does not necessarily mean that every class is self-paced.

An MLS differs from a Juris Doctor (JD), the usual U.S. law degree for prospective attorneys. It also differs from an associate degree or a paralegal certificate, which may be a more direct starting point for entry-level legal support work. Readers without a bachelor's degree may want to examine legal studies education at the associate level before considering graduate admission.

Both schools present an online, graduate-level route to legal study rather than attorney qualification. The useful comparison is what each will let you study, when you must participate, and what you will pay for the courses you actually take.

Neither university is automatically the stronger choice for every legal or compliance role. Request a current degree audit or sample course sequence from each: an attractive elective is less useful if it is unavailable during your planned enrollment period.

As graduate degrees, both programs are intended for applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree. Check each program's current admissions page for its application materials, academic-record requirements, deadlines, and any rules affecting applicants educated outside the United States. Do not treat a preferred professional background as a required prerequisite unless the school explicitly says it is.

If you have college credit but have not completed a bachelor's degree, an MLS application may be premature. A bachelor's-completion route, including using transfer credits toward a paralegal bachelor's, could be a next step. The receiving institution decides which credits apply; neither prior coursework nor admission to a bachelor's program assures later MLS admission.

The most consequential curriculum difference for an applicant is not a course title but whether the degree's required courses and available electives build the legal knowledge their work calls for. Compare both schools' current catalogs against a specific goal: someone handling internal investigations needs a different course mix from someone reviewing contracts or healthcare regulations.

For each program, separate required courses from electives, formal concentrations, and courses that are merely listed in the broader law-school catalog. Ask whether MLS students can enroll in each course, how often it runs online, and whether the program includes applied writing or a capstone. A concentration is a defined academic pathway; a few related electives are not necessarily one.

Completion time at either school depends on the current credit requirement, how many courses you take each term, and when required courses are offered. A school's fastest advertised timeline may assume continuous enrollment or a heavier workload than a full-time employee can manage. Ask each program for a term-by-term plan based on your intended pace, including the earliest and latest realistic graduation dates.

If your immediate goal is an entry-level paralegal role rather than graduate-level legal knowledge, compare that timeline with fast-track options for online paralegal education. A shorter program may get you relevant training sooner, although it serves a different purpose and does not award an MLS.

Neither school's per-credit price, by itself, tells you which MLS will cost less. For a defensible 2026-27 comparison, obtain each school's current tuition rate, required degree credits, mandatory online or university fees, and estimated books or other required materials. Then compare full-program estimates for the same enrollment pace. Ask whether tuition can change before you finish and whether employer assistance applies.

Federal graduate aid may be available to eligible students in eligible programs, but borrowing increases the eventual cost; confirm the specific program's aid eligibility and your options with each financial aid office. If your target is paralegal employment, it is also worth comparing affordable tuition at ABA-approved paralegal programs. American Bar Association (ABA) approval concerns qualifying paralegal programs, not MLS degrees or a university's institutional accreditation.

Do not assume that either online MLS is entirely asynchronous, meaning coursework can be completed without scheduled live class meetings. Participation rules can differ by course and term. Before enrolling, ask both schools for a recent syllabus from a required course and written answers about live sessions, attendance, timed exams, group projects, campus visits, and time-zone expectations.

Those details determine practical flexibility. A recorded lecture may fit around shift work, while a mandatory evening discussion or group meeting may not. Also confirm whether the courses you need are offered online on a schedule that supports your intended completion date.

An MLS can add legal and regulatory knowledge to work in compliance, contracts, human resources, healthcare administration, or policy. It may be especially useful when you already have industry experience and regularly interpret rules or coordinate with attorneys. Employers set their own hiring criteria; the degree does not replace relevant work experience or automatically qualify someone for a management role.

For perspective, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median annual pay of $80,730 for U.S. compliance officers in May 2025 and projects 4% growth for that occupation from 2025-2035. Those figures cover the occupation as a whole, not MLS graduates. Compare job postings you would actually pursue: if they emphasize direct regulatory experience or a field-specific credential over a master's degree, a shorter course of study or employer training may offer a better first step.

Neither MLS by itself qualifies you to become an attorney or take a bar exam. Attorney admission is governed by state-specific rules, and prospective lawyers should evaluate JD programs and the relevant jurisdiction's requirements instead. An MLS also does not automatically grant a professional compliance certification or make its holder a certified paralegal.

If paralegal work is your goal, paralegal certificate study options online address a different educational route. Completing a certificate program and earning professional certification are separate steps; certification requirements depend on the organization or state system involved. Paralegals must also work within applicable rules on the unauthorized practice of law.

Favor American University if its confirmed, available courses better match the legal issues in your job and its schedule and full cost work for you. Favor DePaul on the same basis if its course offerings, participation rules, or total price provide the closer fit. Neither school's name alone establishes better career outcomes or a better return on investment.

Before paying a deposit, get a current course sequence, written clarification of live-class requirements, and an itemized 2026-27 cost estimate from both schools. Ask a supervisor or a hiring manager whether the proposed coursework would strengthen your candidacy for a specific role. That check can prevent an expensive mistake: completing a broad graduate degree when targeted training or additional experience would better address the gap.

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