From the School
The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) is a regionally accredited nonprofit law school. COL is accredited by both the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College and University Commission and the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. The Juris Doctor (J.D.) program deftly combines quality, convenience, affordability, and real-world practicality. Founded more than 40 years ago to expand opportunities for legal education, today the Colleges of Law are widely recognized as being among the state's premier regional law schools. This part-time, evening law program allows students to prepare for rewarding professional careers without abandoning their job and family responsibilities.
Overview
From The School
J.D. Admissions Requirements
J.D. applicants are considered for admission in one of three categories—"regular," "special," and "transfer." These categories are defined by the State Bar of California and reflect differences in academic background. The supporting materials a prospective student must submit with the application vary slightly, depending on which admissions category applies.
J.D. applicants are considered for admission in one of three categories—"regular," "special," and "transfer." These categories are defined by the State Bar of California and reflect differences in academic background. The supporting materials a prospective student must submit with the application vary slightly, depending on which admissions category applies.
Applicants
134
Acceptance Rate
57%
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
43
Test Scores
LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
-
Application Process
Rolling Admissions
Yes
Application Fee
$50
CAS Service Used
No
Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
Yes
Transfer Applicants Accepted
No
Deferred Admission
Yes
Other Admission Factors
Selectivity Rating
Overall
From The School
Degrees Offered
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
At the Colleges of Law, we offer a flexible, part-time evening J.D. program tailored to meet the needs of busy, working adults who place a high value on academic excellence and reasonable cost.
Upon graduation, a student is awarded a Juris Doctor degree and is academically eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination.
J.D. students complete 84 credits in 3-1/2 to 4 years and attend most classes on campus. Required courses emphasize traditional subjects-including all subjects on the California Bar Exam-and skills such as legal research. During summer, students take elective courses highlighting specialty areas of law practice
At the Colleges of Law, we offer a flexible, part-time evening J.D. program tailored to meet the needs of busy, working adults who place a high value on academic excellence and reasonable cost.
Upon graduation, a student is awarded a Juris Doctor degree and is academically eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination.
J.D. students complete 84 credits in 3-1/2 to 4 years and attend most classes on campus. Required courses emphasize traditional subjects-including all subjects on the California Bar Exam-and skills such as legal research. During summer, students take elective courses highlighting specialty areas of law practice
Programs and Curriculum
Academic Support
At The Colleges of Law, academic support starts with First-Year Orientation and continues through graduation.
First-Year Orientation gives students an overview of the essential how-to's of law study, from reading legal opinions and organizing effective study groups through techniques for managing stress. In the Legal Analysis course, offered during the first semester, students focus on the analytical skills needed for success on law school exams.
Student Services
Our student services focus on the interests of future legal professionals. Campus organizations and events help students to forge strong bonds with those who will become their colleagues "at the bar." Groups that promote peer-to-peer mentoring and professional development include the Student Bar Associations; chapters of Delta Theta Phi, an international law fraternity; and, in Ventura, the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Experiential Learning
Students at the Colleges of Law have opportunities to explore their own specific legal interests outside the classroom, whether they are inclined to make a contribution to legal scholarship, work in judicial chambers, or engage in the rough-and-tumble environment of real-world law practice.
At The Colleges of Law, academic support starts with First-Year Orientation and continues through graduation.
First-Year Orientation gives students an overview of the essential how-to's of law study, from reading legal opinions and organizing effective study groups through techniques for managing stress. In the Legal Analysis course, offered during the first semester, students focus on the analytical skills needed for success on law school exams.
Student Services
Our student services focus on the interests of future legal professionals. Campus organizations and events help students to forge strong bonds with those who will become their colleagues "at the bar." Groups that promote peer-to-peer mentoring and professional development include the Student Bar Associations; chapters of Delta Theta Phi, an international law fraternity; and, in Ventura, the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Experiential Learning
Students at the Colleges of Law have opportunities to explore their own specific legal interests outside the classroom, whether they are inclined to make a contribution to legal scholarship, work in judicial chambers, or engage in the rough-and-tumble environment of real-world law practice.
Faculty
About our Faculty
Faculty members at the Colleges of Law are experienced attorneys and judges who are also talented educators. Many have honed their teaching skills through decades of teaching at the Colleges. All have taken and passed at least one State Bar Exam.
Our professors bring a wealth of real-world understanding into the classroom, creating a professional but supportive environment where aspiring lawyers can learn their craft.
Faculty members at the Colleges of Law are experienced attorneys and judges who are also talented educators. Many have honed their teaching skills through decades of teaching at the Colleges. All have taken and passed at least one State Bar Exam.
Our professors bring a wealth of real-world understanding into the classroom, creating a professional but supportive environment where aspiring lawyers can learn their craft.
Special Programs
Our Scholarship Program
For some 45 years, the mission of The Colleges of Law has been to provide broad access to legal education through programs that emphasize academic excellence at reasonable tuition rates to benefit all who enroll. Our student-centered, nonprofit approach has given students from many walks of life the opportunity to pursue careers in law and law-related fields without incurring significant student debt. The scholarship program at The Colleges of Law, made possible through the generosity of alumni and other friends, allows the law school to extend these opportunities even more broadly.
For some 45 years, the mission of The Colleges of Law has been to provide broad access to legal education through programs that emphasize academic excellence at reasonable tuition rates to benefit all who enroll. Our student-centered, nonprofit approach has given students from many walks of life the opportunity to pursue careers in law and law-related fields without incurring significant student debt. The scholarship program at The Colleges of Law, made possible through the generosity of alumni and other friends, allows the law school to extend these opportunities even more broadly.
Faculty Information
Student/Faculty
11:1
Total Faculty
19
26
Female
5
Underrepresented Minorities
Career overview
Career Services
On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
No
On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
No
Overview
From The School
J.D. Tuition & Fees
Tuition for J.D. students entering in Spring and Fall 2015 will pay a Locked-In Tuition rate of $725 per academic semester unit. This covers tuition, technology, a bar review course and certain fees (materials, SBA and graduation fees), but does not cover the cost of textbooks. At that rate, the cost for the entire Juris Doctor degree at the Colleges of Law is $60,900 ($725 per unit X 84 units).
Financial Aid
We recognize that law school is a substantial financial commitment, but it is also an investment in your future. We are pleased to help our students explore the variety of options available to fund their education and limit their student debt.
Loan Programs
Students attending the Colleges are not eligible for federally insured student aid or grants. However, enrollment at the Colleges in either our J.D. or M.L.S. program may qualify a student to participate in alternative loans through private educational lenders such as Sallie Mae.
Veterans Benefits
Eligible veterans may qualify to receive benefits for J.D. studies at the Colleges
Student Worker Program
A limited number of jobs in the library and other school offices become available for student workers from time to time.
Tuition for J.D. students entering in Spring and Fall 2015 will pay a Locked-In Tuition rate of $725 per academic semester unit. This covers tuition, technology, a bar review course and certain fees (materials, SBA and graduation fees), but does not cover the cost of textbooks. At that rate, the cost for the entire Juris Doctor degree at the Colleges of Law is $60,900 ($725 per unit X 84 units).
Financial Aid
We recognize that law school is a substantial financial commitment, but it is also an investment in your future. We are pleased to help our students explore the variety of options available to fund their education and limit their student debt.
Loan Programs
Students attending the Colleges are not eligible for federally insured student aid or grants. However, enrollment at the Colleges in either our J.D. or M.L.S. program may qualify a student to participate in alternative loans through private educational lenders such as Sallie Mae.
Veterans Benefits
Eligible veterans may qualify to receive benefits for J.D. studies at the Colleges
Student Worker Program
A limited number of jobs in the library and other school offices become available for student workers from time to time.
Dates
Financial Aid Statistics
% Students Receiving Some Aid
85%
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
$22,000
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$9,787
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$9,787
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$903
Overall
From The School
Student Profile/Class Size
Men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and life experiences attend the Colleges.
Our students range in age from their 20's to their 60's, with an average age of about 35. The ratio of men/women students is about 50/50. While some students have worked in law related fields, most have not. Our student body reflects widely diverse undergraduate majors and current employment fields.
Classes are small enough so that each student receives personal attention while being part of a class large enough to encourage discussion of a wide range of viewpoints. Classes in the first year of the curriculum may have 30-65 members, while advanced courses and seminars usually have 10-45 students. The average class size is approximately 25 students.
Men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and life experiences attend the Colleges.
Our students range in age from their 20's to their 60's, with an average age of about 35. The ratio of men/women students is about 50/50. While some students have worked in law related fields, most have not. Our student body reflects widely diverse undergraduate majors and current employment fields.
Classes are small enough so that each student receives personal attention while being part of a class large enough to encourage discussion of a wide range of viewpoints. Classes in the first year of the curriculum may have 30-65 members, while advanced courses and seminars usually have 10-45 students. The average class size is approximately 25 students.
Student Body Profile
Total Enrollment
183
Demographics
Campus Life
More Information
% of Classrooms with Internet Access
40%
Admissions Office Contact
From The School
Campus and Location
Our campuses are located in two of California's most charming coastal communities, established during the state's early Mission-building period. Both small cities boast beautiful harbors, year-round Mediterranean climate, renowned examples of classic Spanish-style architecture, and expanding economies.
The Santa Barbara Campus is located at 20 East Victoria Street in the heart of the downtown area, within easy walking distance of many private and public law offices. Completed in 1997, the single-story, 8,000 square foot facility was built for the exclusive use of the Colleges.
The Ventura Campus is located at 4475 Market Street. Built in 1987, it consists of a two-story, 18,000 square foot Spanish-style building, with grounds and an adjacent private, lighted parking lot with spaces for handicapped parking. The Ventura campus is conveniently located three blocks south of the 101 Freeway and approximately one mile from the Ventura County Government Center, where students of the Colleges are eligible to use the resources of the County Law Library.
The Santa Barbara Campus is located at 20 East Victoria Street in the heart of the downtown area, within easy walking distance of many private and public law offices. Completed in 1997, the single-story, 8,000 square foot facility was built for the exclusive use of the Colleges.
The Ventura Campus is located at 4475 Market Street. Built in 1987, it consists of a two-story, 18,000 square foot Spanish-style building, with grounds and an adjacent private, lighted parking lot with spaces for handicapped parking. The Ventura campus is conveniently located three blocks south of the 101 Freeway and approximately one mile from the Ventura County Government Center, where students of the Colleges are eligible to use the resources of the County Law Library.
Facilities
Library/Computer Center
Each campus has a law library to serve the needs of students, faculty and staff. The library collections include federal and California cases and statutes, legal encyclopedias, digests, periodicals, treatises, practice guides and other legal references.
Exam Bank
Experienced law students know that one of the best strategies to prepare for law school exams is to take practice exams under test conditions.
At COL, the availability of prior years' essay exams in core courses makes it easy for students to incorporate practice exams into their schedules for exam preparation.
Westlaw
Students enrolled at the Colleges of Law receive passwords to Westlaw, a premier online database for legal and law-related materials.
Each campus has a law library to serve the needs of students, faculty and staff. The library collections include federal and California cases and statutes, legal encyclopedias, digests, periodicals, treatises, practice guides and other legal references.
Exam Bank
Experienced law students know that one of the best strategies to prepare for law school exams is to take practice exams under test conditions.
At COL, the availability of prior years' essay exams in core courses makes it easy for students to incorporate practice exams into their schedules for exam preparation.
Westlaw
Students enrolled at the Colleges of Law receive passwords to Westlaw, a premier online database for legal and law-related materials.
Address
20 East Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone
800-305-9631
Email
admissions@collegesoflaw.edu