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For students—both U.S. and foreign-trained attorneys—interested in completing their LL.M. degree in American and Transnational Law, the University of Dayton School of Law offers a 100% online program.
All courses are entirely online in an asynchronous format, allowing students to access course content on the days and times that work best for them. See what our students have to say!
Earn your degree in as little as 1 calendar year—3 available semesters starting in January, May, and August.
Our Online LL.M. curriculum aligns with the current requirements for the Washington D.C., California, and Washington state bar exams.* Online LL.M. students have exclusive, free access to our expertly designed mini bar prep program that supplements their LL.M. studies. Beginning Fall 2026, students will also benefit from Kaplan bar-aligned learning tools integrated throughout the curriculum, including diagnostics, targeted practice, and exam-focused resources. In addition, Online LL.M. students are eligible for discounted pricing for the Kaplan Bar Review course.
Guaranteed partial tuition scholarships are offered to all degree-seeking students who apply by the priority deadline. No on-campus study requirement, and no additional costs for reading materials.
All Online LL.M. students receive access to free supplemental online resources and study guides, as well as free Career Services, Academic Success Services, and Library resources.
Courses taught by critically acclaimed professors and legal practitioners with experience instructing via an online platform.
One-on-one career counseling available to help you tailor your job search, leverage your LL.M. degree and connect you to University of Dayton alumni throughout the world (over 120,000 alumni living worldwide).
*Eligibility requirements for bar admission vary by state. Dayton Law cannot guarantee bar admission. Students are responsible for contacting the state bar to determine their eligibility.
The Online LL.M. program is for law school graduates who already hold a first degree in law. There are no additional testing requirements for this program—no GMAT, GRE, or LSAT required for admission.
This Online LL.M. Program appeals primarily to foreign-educated law school graduates interested in:
*Eligibility requirements for bar admission vary by state. Dayton Law cannot guarantee bar admission. Students are responsible for contacting the state bar to determine their eligibility.
The mission of the Online LL.M. program is to provide an affordable online legal education while upholding UD’s quality and reputation. Tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is $1,410/credit, but generous partial tuition scholarships are available to all pursuing the full degree.
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to email the Online LL.M. Program at onlinellmapplication@udayton.edu to learn more. University fees are currently $25/semester and will increase to $50/semester starting in the summer (May) 2027 semester. There are no additional costs for students in the online LL.M. program.
Outside of the partial-tuition scholarships awarded by Dayton Law at admission, there are limited outside scholarship resources. AccessLex, a non-profit organization, has a database of outside scholarships available that students may qualify for: https://www.accesslex.org/databank. In addition, there are private lenders who offer loans to international students. We keep a list of preferred private/alternative lenders on our website.
You can view a list of outside scholarship resources.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans are available for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. The Direct Unsubsidized loan has an annual limit of $20,500, but loans must be prorated if a student isn't enrolled full-time (6 credit hours per semester). In order to be eligible for the Direct Unsubsidized loan you must be enrolled half–time (3 credit hours per semester).
To apply, complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. Be sure to include the University of Dayton, school code 003127. You do not need to wait for an admissions decision before completing the FAFSA. Rather, you can complete the FAFSA before your admissions decision with the Online LL.M. program is finalized. Once we receive your FAFSA results and you have been admitted, you will be emailed with the details of your financial aid award and next steps.
Cost of Attendance for 2026-27:
Assuming 6 hours per semester for Fall, Spring and Summer
Tuition & fees: $25,544 (based on tuition of $1,410 per credit hour.) Tuition is subject to change annually at the start of the summer semester.
Supplies: $750
Loan processing fees: $215
Professional/licensure fees: $600
Personal living allowance: $18,610
Total: $45,630
Please note the only direct costs you would see on a university bill are for tuition & fees. The other categories allow you to receive loans to help cover those indirect expenses related to education. If you are not enrolled full-time then your personal living allowance will be prorated.
Please direct all questions about Financial Aid to the University of Dayton School of Law’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, +1.937.229.3555.
Students can obtain their degree and take the next step—both professionally and academically—without ever having to leave their job, home, or family. Classes in the LL.M. in American and Transnational Law program are designed for the working professional. All courses are offered in an asynchronous online format, where content is pre-recorded and available to students to review at their convenience during the semester. (The LL.M. degree and transcript do not reflect the program as being “online.”)
Graduates of non-ABA accredited law schools (including foreign-educated attorneys) holding a first degree in law or equivalent are required to complete 12 courses (30 credits) to earn the LL.M. degree. Pending course availability and sequencing, students may complete the 30 credits in as little as one year (3 semesters).
Reading materials are available—online and for free—within each course. In order to stimulate class discussion and the exchange of ideas, each course also includes interactive components, including community building activities, discussion boards, announcements, live online review sessions (with your professors and classmates), and more!
Contact Online LL.M. Assistant Dean, Margaret Ioannides, to schedule a one-on-one virtual tour of an online LL.M. classroom.
The online LL.M. courses are open to both U.S. and foreign-educated attorneys and are designed primarily for foreign-educated law graduates seeking to obtain a better understanding of U.S. law and U.S. legal practice, as well as a potential path to bar eligibility.
Students obtain a foundation of knowledge in the areas of law that are most commonly tested on the bar examination as well as practical experience in the type of legal writing and communication tested on the bar examination and used in United States legal practice. The online curriculum aligns with the current requirements of the California, D.C., and Washington state bar examinations.*
*Eligibility requirements for bar admission vary by state. Dayton Law cannot guarantee bar admission. Students are responsible for contacting the state bar to determine their eligibility.
Degree-seeking students and graduates from our Online LL.M. Program have exclusive access (free of charge) to online interactive experiences and personal support oriented to the bar.
In addition to being at the forefront of internationalizing online legal education, the University of Dayton School of Law received its highest ranking ever in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report for Best Graduate Schools and is ranked 39th in Part-time Law for its innovative Online Hybrid J.D. program.
In addition to earning the LL.M. degree, students completing the online LL.M.Program within three years also earn (at no additional cost) a Certificate in United States Legal Practice.
Benefits of U.S. Legal Practice Certificate:
How to earn a U.S. Legal Practice Certificate:
Students can obtain their degree and take the next step—both professionally and academically—without ever having to leave their job, home, or family. To help our students pursue and explore enhanced career opportunities, Dayton Law Online LL.M. provides customized career counseling through the University of Dayton School of Law’s Career Services Office.
All Online LL.M. students also have access to the UD online library and online supplemental study tools and resources to reinforce the concepts covered in your courses. Many students appreciate the targeted resources to get a “head start” on bar exam preparation.
Check out articles about the benefits of earning an Online LL.M. degree.
LLM vs. JD: Which Law Degree Is Right for International Attorneys? Find out whether a LL.M. or J.D. degree is the best option for you based on what your career goals are.
See how you can apply to the University of Dayton School of Law's Online LL.M. program.
