Why This Matters

  • PREPARE FOR MULTIPLE DIVERSE CAREER PATHS

    A master’s degree in business law isn’t just for lawyers looking to specialize. This degree can help you climb to senior-level positions in finance, international business, government, human resources, and more.

  • 91,300 NEW COMPLIANCE MANAGERS ARE NEEDED

    Compliance managers ensure that companies comply with laws and regulations relevant to their specific industry. As laws and regulations are always evolving, individuals with training in interpreting laws are in demand, resulting in 6% projected job growth.

  • DEMAND FOR ARBITRATORS TO RISE 8% BY 2028

    Individuals with expertise in business law can be valuable in non-litigious means of settling disputes, including arbitration and mediation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts faster-than-average growth in these occupations through 2028.

Our Research

For this list, we concentrated on master’s degrees in business law. The most common type of master’s degree in this field is a Master of Law (LL.M) degree.

To ensure that the degrees we reviewed are accessible to the greatest number of students, we only reviewed online programs. Please note that some programs have minimal on-campus requirements, even if most coursework can be completed online.

All of the programs we reviewed are offered by schools that have regional accreditation. This is a confirmation that the programs meet the highest standards of quality for postsecondary education. Degrees and credits from regionally accredited schools are widely recognized and transferable.

Once we found programs that met our criteria, we evaluated them based on faculty, flexibility, cost, outcomes, and reputation. Then we calculated an Intelligent Score for each program on a scale of 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 66 hours to write this article
  • 135 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 299 education programs we compared

The Top 10 Best Online Master's in Business Law Degree Programs

Widener University

Intelligent Pick

Widener University offers a comprehensive online Master of Jurisprudence in Corporate and Business Law degree from its Delaware Law School. The degree is designed for non-lawyer professionals and focuses on practical skills training in a variety of legal-related fields. Graduates can work in regulatory compliance, risk management, corporate financial fraud, investigations, auditing, and more. A bachelor’s degree is required for this self-paced program, and applicants with professional employment in business are preferred. A unique feature of this program is that eligible students can also become a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional or Certified in Healthcare Compliance. Program faculty is diverse, and many also work outside the classroom as corporate law attorneys, compliance officers, accounting and auditing professionals, nurses, and more.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,725
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 57%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: Compliance Certification Board (CCB)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 302-477-2703

Learn more 

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Best in the West

Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s Master of Science of Law degree is one of the longest-standing online legal programs in the United States. It’s designed with the working professional in mind, and classes do not meet at a specific time. Instead, students can watch each week’s lectures when it is convenient for them. A unique feature of the program is the low student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1. Also, students can select among three concentrations to specialize in: taxation, financial compliance and risk management, and financial services and wealth management. Most faculty members are working professionals in the field of law at places including the Internal Revenue Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission, law firms, and banks.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,620
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 71%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 619-961-4300

Learn more

Columbia University

Best in the Northeast

Columbia University offers an Executive Master of Laws in Global Business Law degree that is attainable in a hybrid manner. The Ivy League program stands out for its short length — six months — but is extremely intense in its commitment. Students spend three months learning online and three months on campus during a summer residency from May through August. Furnished, on-campus student housing is available during the residency. The program’s courses and training revolve around global business law and each incoming class is made up of a select 15 to 20 students. Students who successfully complete the program are invited to return to campus for the school’s graduation ceremony the following May.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost: $77,352 (per program)
  • Credits required to graduate: 24
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 92%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 212-854-2640

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Emory University

Best in the Southeast

Atlanta-based Emory Law’s Juris Master program offers a concentration in business law and regulation that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed for working business professionals to broaden their knowledge of the law as it relates to their industry. Candidates come from a variety of industries, including banking, real estate, accounting, nonprofit, and insurance. Upon graduation, they can interact with legal counsel more efficiently and identify and manage important legal issues. A unique feature of the program is that all master’s level courses are taught by the same faculty members who teach the Juris Doctor courses.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $2,575
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 92%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 404-727-0598

Learn more

Northeastern University

Best Alumni Network

Northeastern University School of Law’s online Master of Laws program offers an international business track that prepares domestic attorneys and international law school graduates for specialized positions in the field. The program can be completed in one year and is 100% online except for an optional one-week legal immersion experience in San Francisco. This unique immersion experience allows students to meet and network with peers, alumni, instructors, and leaders in the legal industry. Another unusual perk of the program is that online students are eligible for merit or need-based scholarships, in addition to regular financial aid.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,400
  • Credits required to graduate: 24
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 87%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 617-419-3247

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Loyola University Chicago

Best in the Midwest

Loyola University Chicago’s Master of Laws in Business Law program stands out in that it is designed for students who already have a Juris Doctor degree. This deep-dive program can be completed online in two years and helps attorneys develop advanced skills for advising corporate clients. Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree and a primary law degree. Among the graduation requirements is the completion of a business law thesis paper. Further setting this program apart is students’ opportunity to represent clients through the school’s Business Law Clinic. Most faculty members are also practicing attorneys who work in private practice, for corporations, and for government entities like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,615
  • Credits required to graduate: 24
  • Graduation rate: 74%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 312-915-7170

Learn more

University of Alabama

Best Electives

The University of Alabama School of Law offers a Master of Laws degree with a concentration in business transactions that takes one to two  years to complete. The program offers abundant choices for electives, including Ethics, Personal Income Tax, Executive Compensation, and Partnerships. Students are required to attend an online summer orientation to be trained in the program’s interactive online technologies. Prerequisites for the program are the most specific on this list and include a law degree, an undergraduate degree in accounting or business, and minimum GRE or GMAT scores. Professors are experienced business and tax attorneys selected exclusively for the online program, and they come from around the country.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,822
  • Credits required to graduate: 24
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 67%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 205-348-5932

Learn more

Western New England University

Best Career Services

Massachusetts-based Western New England University offers a Master of Business Administration with a business law concentration for students interested in the field. There is no requirement to hold a law degree, but you must be a student in the school’s business program. Course options include White Collar Crime, Product Liability, Bankruptcy, and Employment Law. The university has specialized career services advisors for students from the business school. Among the services they provide are individual consultations, resume writing, employer contacts and connections, social media audits, and practice interviews. An impressive 96% of the school’s business class of 2020 were employed or offered employment within six months of graduation.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $950 per credit
  • Credits required to graduate: 36
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 59%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 413-782-1517

Learn more 

Western Michigan University

Best Scholarships

An online Master of Laws in Corporate Law and Finance program is offered at Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The curriculum emphasizes the financial aspects of corporate practice and is intended for recent law graduates seeking mastery in this specialized area. Courses are live, interactive, and offered weekday evenings and weekends to accommodate working attorneys. The program stands out for its small class sizes (typically less than 15 students) and its robust scholarship program. Scholarships are based on merit and consider factors like GPA, bar admission, community or military service, employment, and anticipated contribution to the legal community.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,200
  • Credits required to graduate: 24
  • Academic calendar: Split trimester
  • Graduation rate: 59%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 517-371-5140

Learn more 

Texas A&M University

Best in the Southwest

Since 2017, Texas A&M University has offered a Master of Jurisprudence program with a certificate in business law and compliance. This is a hybrid program that combines online and on-campus courses in San Antonio. On-campus attendance is required one to three weekends a session. In the program, students learn principles of contract and commercial law, domestic and international legal perspectives on transactions, how to communicate effectively with lawyers, and more. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, but there are no GPA or testing requirements. Merit scholarships are not available, but students in the program are eligible for financial aid and veteran’s benefits.

Things to Consider:

  • Cost per credit: $1,409.38
  • Credits required to graduate: 30
  • Academic calendar: Traditional semester
  • Graduation rate: 81%

More Program Information: 

  • Accreditation: American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 817-212-4000

Learn more 

Other Online Master’s in Business Law Programs to Consider

Best Online Master's in Business Law Degree Programs
01
Intelligent Pick
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
01
Most Affordable
Widener University
01
Best for Global Public Companies
Colley Law School
01
Best Compliance Focus
Loyola University Chicago
01
Best Public University
The University of Alabama
01

Wake Forest University
01

Boston University

What You Should Know About This Degree

Business law is an umbrella term that encompasses trade, corporate, compliance, finance, and international business law. Depending on the program, the curriculum may cover one of these areas in-depth or several topics in a broad sense. Consider your personal interests and career goals when selecting a program to find one that most closely aligns with what you are seeking.

Regardless of what aspect of business law the program focuses on, a key point to note is that a LL.M. degree is different than a law degree, which is typically a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Earning an LL.M. degree will not prepare you to take the bar exam, which is a requirement to become a practicing lawyer. If you want to become a lawyer, you should seek an ABA-approved law degree.

If you are planning on becoming a practicing lawyer who specializes in business law, you can complete an LL.M. either before or after attending law school and passing the bar exam.

A master’s in business law is also open to individuals who are not interested in practicing law but want to work in a law-related field, like compliance or finance. This type of degree equips students with many transferable skills, including research, critical thinking, and communication skills that can be applied to a variety of occupations.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Online Master’s in Business Law programs:

  • Am I eligible for this program? Depending on the program, you may need prior education or experience in law, business, or a related field to be eligible for admission. Look carefully at the program’s admissions requirements before applying to confirm that you have the right educational and professional background to be considered eligible for the program.
  • Are there any in-person requirements? Some programs have minimal residency requirements, either on-campus or in other locations, as part of their curriculum. Before enrolling in a program, be sure to review the in-person requirements so that you can plan on accommodating them in your schedule and budget.

Other steps that you can take at this point in the process include collecting your application materials and confirming application deadlines. This information is typically available on the school’s website, or you can contact their admissions department.

You should also consider how you will finance your master’s degree. Talk to financial aid counselors about your options for student loans, scholarships, and assistantships. If you are currently employed, find out if your employer offers tuition assistance benefits.