2027 American University vs. Purdue Global: Comparing Online Legal Studies Master's Programs

American University's credential is a Master of Legal Studies (MLS), offered through American University Washington College of Law. Purdue Global's is a Master of Science in Legal Studies (MS). Both are intended for graduate study of law by people who are not seeking attorney qualification. Neither the word "science" nor the law-school affiliation establishes a better career outcome.

The comparison below identifies the distinctions that matter before you compare individual courses and prices.

Start with the work you want to do, then compare the courses you could actually take - not just the degree titles or a list of possible electives.

American University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Purdue University Global is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation concerns the university; it does not mean the two master's degrees have identical curricula or that another institution must accept their credits.

Do not confuse these degrees with American Bar Association (ABA) approval. The ABA accredits qualifying JD programs and approves certain paralegal education programs under separate processes. An institution's JD status does not make its non-JD master's an ABA-approved paralegal program, and neither university's institutional accreditation is ABA approval. If a particular employer or future school requires a specified type of program approval, get its requirements in writing before applying.

There is no sound basis for declaring either degree the career-outcomes winner without comparable, program-specific information on graduates' jobs, earnings, and debt. A school's examples of possible careers are not evidence that its graduates obtained those positions.

For context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median annual pay of $80,730 in May 2025 for compliance officers and projects 4% growth in 2025-2035. That occupational benchmark describes workers across employers and educational backgrounds - not graduates of either master's program. For an experienced professional, the better question is whether particular courses fill a legal or regulatory knowledge gap relevant to a realistic next role.

If your aim is an entry-level paralegal position rather than broader graduate legal study, compare the time and expense against associate-level paralegal education options. Employers set their own hiring preferences, and a master's is not automatically the most direct entry route.

Both programs focus on studying law for use outside attorney practice. The meaningful difference for an applicant is how each school's required courses and available electives map to a specific goal, such as interpreting regulations, working with contracts, or communicating with counsel. A course title alone does not establish how much drafting, legal research, or applied problem-solving it requires.

Request each current degree plan and compare the same three things: required legal foundations, electives available during your expected enrollment period, and the nature of graded assignments. Ask whether a subject you care about is a formal concentration, an elective you may take, or simply a topic mentioned within another course. Also confirm any capstone or other required applied work; do not assume either program includes an internship or hands-on training with a particular legal research platform.

As graduate programs, both are aimed at applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree. Before paying an application fee, check each school's current admissions page for accepted degree backgrounds, transcript rules, application materials, English-language requirements where applicable, and whether standardized tests are required or waived. A published preference should not be mistaken for an eligibility requirement.

If you have substantial legal-support experience but no bachelor's degree, an undergraduate path may be the necessary first step. In that case, transfer-friendly online paralegal bachelor's programs may be more relevant than applying directly to either master's. Have the receiving university evaluate any prior credits; accreditation alone does not guarantee transfer.

Completion time depends on each program's required credits, term calendar, course availability, and how many courses you can take while working. Do not compare a semester-credit requirement directly with a quarter-credit requirement or treat a school's fastest advertised completion time as a typical outcome.

Ask both schools for a term-by-term plan based on your intended start date and workload. It should show when required courses are offered and whether taking a lighter load delays a prerequisite or final project. If finishing quickly is a priority, use the same planning questions when exploring accelerated legal studies master's pathways; a short advertised timeline is useful only if you can sustain its weekly workload.

There is no responsible single price comparison without matching current tuition rates to each school's credit unit, required credits, fees, and your expected course load. A per-credit quote is not a total-program bill, and a lower advertised tuition rate does not necessarily mean a lower cost to finish. Prices can also change before a later start date, so rely on a current written estimate rather than an undated figure.

Request an itemized estimate from each university covering tuition, mandatory fees, books or materials, technology needs, and any charges tied to your planned pace. Ask what happens to the estimate if you take fewer courses or receive approved transfer credit. Compare those figures with legal studies master's programs by tuition and duration, but weigh price against the courses you would actually use.

Federal aid eligibility and borrowing depend on the student, institution, program, and enrollment status; admission does not guarantee a particular aid package. Review each school's financial-aid offer alongside its cost estimate before deciding.

Both offer the degrees online, but online does not necessarily mean self-paced. Scheduled discussions, live sessions, assignment deadlines, group work, or fixed course sequences can have a greater effect on your workweek than the word "online" suggests. Do not infer one school's meeting rules from the other's.

Ask each program for a current sample syllabus and term calendar. Confirm whether live attendance is required, whether recordings or alternative assignments are permitted, how often courses start, and whether any campus visit, proctored assessment, or placement is required. Those answers are particularly important if you work shifts, travel frequently, or live in another time zone.

No. Neither American University's MLS nor Purdue Global's MS in Legal Studies is a JD, and neither by itself makes a graduate eligible to practice law. Attorney admission is governed by the jurisdiction where a person seeks to practice; applicants must check that jurisdiction's rules for legal education, examinations, and other requirements.

The distinction also matters at work. Legal studies graduates can use legal knowledge in permitted professional roles, but a nonlawyer cannot independently perform services reserved for licensed attorneys. If becoming an attorney is your goal, investigate JD programs and the rules of your intended licensing jurisdiction rather than treating either master's as a substitute.

Choose the program whose available coursework and actual weekly schedule address your next professional step at a cost you can justify. American University may appeal if its law-school curriculum offers the subjects and learning environment you want. Purdue Global may be a stronger fit if its course plan and scheduling work better around your job. Neither inference should replace a review of the current degree plan and a personalized price quote.

Before committing, take these steps in order:

1. Name the role or responsibility you are preparing for, then identify the legal knowledge it requires.
2. Get both current degree plans and sample syllabi; mark required courses, relevant electives, and any scheduling constraints.
3. Request itemized total-cost and financial-aid estimates for the same expected enrollment pace, including the cost if you take longer.
4. Ask your employer whether a shorter course, graduate certificate, or employer training would meet the same goal before committing to a full master's.

If cash flow is the obstacle, distinguish installment timing from a lower overall price. A comparison of options for paying online paralegal tuition in monthly installments can help frame that question, though you must confirm payment-plan terms directly with either master's program. The costly mistake is choosing by degree name or advertised speed before checking courses, schedule, and the amount you would actually owe.

• Cost of Attendance (Budget) | 2025-2026 Federal Student Aid Handbook https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/2025-2026/vol3/ch2-cost-attendance-budget
• Qualified Ed expenses | Internal Revenue Service https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/qualified-ed-expenses
• Accreditation in the U.S. | ed.gov http://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation/accreditation-in-the-us
• Online Master of Legal Studies | AU-LAW https://onlinelaw.wcl.american.edu/legal-studies/
• Can You Practice Law Without Passing the Bar? | J.D. Jobs https://www.collegesoflaw.edu/blog/2022/04/12/jobs-for-j-d-s-bar-exam-not-required/
• Online Master's Degree in Legal Studies | Purdue Global https://www.purdueglobal.edu/degree-programs/legal-studies/online-master-degree-legal-studies/
• Application Requirements - Graduate Admissions https://graduate.admissions.gwu.edu/application-requirements
• How 8-Week Terms Work | Ivy Tech Community College https://www.ivytech.edu/classes/how-8-week-terms-work/
• Disclosures About Licensure for the Practice of Law | yu.edu https://cardozo.yu.edu/disclosures-about-licensure-practice-law