The 10 Most Affordable Public Law Schools in America

University of North Dakota School of Law

Location: Grand Forks, ND
In-state tuition and fees: $11,161​
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $24,836

Fun Facts: The UND School of Law was founded in 1899, and possesses a wide range of successful alumni from Supreme Court Justices all the way to private practice attorneys. It offers its students a variety of clubs and organizations to become involved with like Law Review, Moot Court Board, Student Bar Association, Law Women's Caucus, and the Student Trial Association. For fun, they hold an annual Malpractice football tournament between the law and medical students.

Admissions: Call 1-800-CALL UND

The University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law

Location: Washington D.C.
In-state tuition and fees full time: $11,516
Out-of-state tuition and fees full ​time: $22,402

Fun Facts: UDC-DCSL was created from two separate law schools: the Antioch School of Law and the District of Columbia School of Law. Like North Carolina Central, this law school prides itself in creating attorneys whose sole purpose is to help meet the needs of the truly needy. Who was David A. Clarke? He was a law professor and civil rights leader who spearheaded the founding of the District's public law school and its special program that requires law students to perform clinical service in the D.C. area.

Admissions: Call (202) 274-7341 

North Carolina Central University

Location: Durham, North Carolina
In-state tuition and fees: $12,655
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $27,696

Fun Facts: Ranked as one of the top 20 law schools in the nation, this law school, originally founded to educate students with an African-American background, now boasts a diverse population of students who "are committed to public service and to meeting the needs of people and communities that are underserved by or that are under-represented in the legal profession."

Admissions: Call 919-530-6333 

Southern University Law Center

Location: Baton Rouge, LA
In-state tuition and fees full time: $13,560
Out-of-state tuition and fees full time: $24,160

Fun Facts: On June 14, 1947, the Board of Liquidation of State Debt appropriated $40,000 for the operation of The Southern University Law School, which was officially opened in September 1947 to provide legal education for African-American students.

Southern University Law Center graduates have spread across the state and nation as trailblazers in the legal profession, securing equal rights for others. To date, the Law Center has more than 2,500 graduates and is one of the nation’s most racially diverse law schools with 63 percent African American students, 35 percent Euro American and 1 percent Asian American.

Admissions: Call 225.771.2552 

CUNY - City University of New York School of Law

Location: Long Island City, NY
In-state tuition and fees full time: $14,663
Out-of-state tuition and fees full time: $23,983

Fun Facts: Although it's relatively new as far as law schools go with a founding date of 1983, CUNY consistently ranks in the top 10 law schools in the country for clinical training. In fact, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg praised the college as "an institution of incomparable value." With its primary focus on producing attorneys to serve the underprivileged in their communities and a uniquely diverse student population, it stands out from its more established counterparts.

Admissions: Call (718) 340-4210 

Florida A&M University

Location: Orlando, Florida
In-state tuition and fees full time: $14,131
Out-of-state tuition and fees full time: $34,034

Fun Facts: Established in 1949, FAMU is the largest African-American university campus in terms of enrollment. It boasts important alumni, like state representatives, congressmen, and a Florida secretary of state. One of its goals is to provide a diverse range of future community leaders who are "sensitive to the needs of all people."

Admissions: Call 407-254-3286 

University of South Dakota School of Law

Location: Vermillion, SD
In-state tuition and fees: $14,688
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $31,747

Fun Facts:Although USD Law is another one of the small law schools with only 220 enrollees, it offers diverse academic opportunities like natural resources law, health law and policy, American Indian law, and business and capital formation. Plus, since it is such an intimate setting, the student to faculty ratio is one of the best in the United States. Also, if you don't get invited to attend USD with regular admittance, you could participate in their Law Screening Program, which offers hopeful attendees two classes and another chance at admittance.

Admissions: Call 605-677-5443 or email law@usd.edu

University of Wyoming School of Law

Location: Laramie, WY
In-state tuition and fees: $14,911
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $31,241

Fun Facts: If you want smaller class sizes, this may be the school for you – it's one of the smallest law schools in the country with only 16 professors and approximately 200 students. Situated 7,200 feet in the foothills of the Medicine Bow Range Mountains, you can study one of the required classes like Administrative Law, Bankruptcy, or Civil Pretrial Practice surrounded by natural beauty.

Admissions: Call (307) 766-6416 or email lawmain@uwyo.edu

University of Mississippi School of Law

Location:  University, MS
In-state tuition and fees: $15,036
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $32,374

Fun Facts: "Ole Miss" as the school's been affectionately dubbed, prides itself in tenets like fairness and civility, personal and professional integrity, academic honesty, and freedom. Founded in 1854, it is one of the oldest law schools in the country and currently has approximately 500 enrolled students, 37 teachers and an expansive law library with over 350,000 volumes.

Admissions: Call 662-915-7361 or email lawadmin@olemiss.edu

University of Montana Alexander Blewett III School of Law

Location: Missoula, MT
In-state tuition and fees: $11,393
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $30,078

Fun Facts: Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, you'll be surrounded by natural beauty at this law school; you'll also experience man-made beauty as well, with the new Law Building, which opens the Summer of 2009. Founded in 1911, this school prides itself on its ability to incorporate law theory with practicality. Here, you'll "draft contracts, create corporations, counsel clients, negotiate transactions, try a case to a jury and argue an appeal" – all real-world stuff. Plus, with only 83 other students, you'll have one-on-one access to the law professionals teaching the classes.

Admissions: Call (406) 243-4311