Legal Studies

The Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is designed for students who wish to receive an advanced education as paralegals, enter law-related fields requiring a bachelor’s degree, enhance their academic or professional credentials, or attend law school. Paralegals assist lawyers in providing legal services in a private law firm, corporate law office, or government agency. Paralegals are not permitted to give legal advice or provide legal services directly to the public.

While most courses in the Legal Studies program run online as well as on campus, the ABA requires that all students take at least 9 credits of legal specialty courses in a traditional or remote face-to-face format. See “Limitations on transfer of legal specialty credits” below for a list of legal specialty courses.

The Central Penn Legal Studies program is widely known for its academic rigor and enjoys a reputation for excellence within the legal community. With few exceptions, all courses are taught by licensed attorneys, providing graduates of this program with instruction from those who are most academically and experientially qualified. Students also participate in a wide variety of hands-on learning activities, including field trips, a mock trial, guest lectures, and an internship.

Program learning objectives.

• A thorough comprehension of relevant bodies of law, the legal system, judicial processes, and prevailing legal theory.
• Problem-solving and research ability relative to legal issues, principles, and procedures.
• Development of computer literacy skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Technical skills in legal research, writing and analysis, substantive case evaluation, legal communication, law office and courtroom procedures, and case preparation and management.
• Proficiency in the use of computer-assisted legal research.
• The ability to perform and manage procedural and substantive legal tasks in an ethical manner.
• Professional maturity and preparedness to function effectively and professionally in a legal environment.

To be considered for admission into a degree or professional certificate program, students must be a high school graduate or have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Pennsylvania Home School Diploma or other recognized equivalency diploma. High School Students applying with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher may be considered for regular admission. Students applying with a GPA below a 2.0 in high school or from another college or university, if accepted, will be admitted conditionally. Please submit an application for admission and a copy of high school and/or college transcript(s). Some applicants may be required to attend a personal interview with the Admissions Office.

An admission essay may be deemed optional for all applicants whose GPA meets or exceeds the minimum for acceptance into the desired program. For certificates and degrees in the Schools of Humanities and Business, the minimum GPA for acceptance is 2.0. For most Health Sciences certificates and degrees, unless otherwise specified, the minimum GPA is 2.2.

Courses are offered at a variety of times Monday through Friday. Online classes are also available. Typical courses run for an 11-week term. The College operates on a year-round schedule of quarterly, 11-week terms enabling students to complete their degrees faster, if they choose to go full-time each term.

Tuition and fees. Undergraduate tuition is $525 per credit for all majors. A Student/Technology Fee of $510 per term (5 or more credits) or $315 (4 or fewer credits) is required. A one-time $150 graduation fee applies.

Books and other expenses. Variable expenses per term (estimates): textbooks $350–$450; course material fees approximately $50–$150 per course; personal $150–$250; transportation $150–$300. Uniforms (where required) are estimated at $100–$150.

Housing and meals. Campus housing per term: individual private bedroom $2,205, standard apartment bedroom $1,505, super suite bedroom $1,595, utilities $330. Meal plans per term range from $550 (Block 75) to $1,125 (14 Meal Plan); a $250 housing security deposit is required.

Financial aid. Central Penn College processes grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study through federal, state, private, and institutional sources to help eligible students meet some of those costs, including the Federal Pell Grant, PA State Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Stafford Loans. To apply for all federal and state financial aid programs, students must complete the FAFSA; Central Penn’s Federal School Code for FAFSA is 004890. To receive financial aid a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (4 credits).

Payment options. Tuition and expenses are paid each term approximately three weeks before the term starts. Central Penn has a short-term three-month payment plan through CASHNet that divides the balance of the tuition owed by three payments; there is a $35 non-refundable application fee paid with the first payment. An Employer Reimbursement Tuition Agreement Plan lets students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employer defer payment until the specified dates.

Military benefits. Military benefits accepted include the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) and Tuition Assistance.

Net price calculator. Use Central Penn’s Net Price Calculator at https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/centralpenn for an early estimate of your total annual cost.

Careers you can pursue. Paralegal, Compliance Officer, Law Clerk, Legal Assistant, Regulatory Officer, Corporate Investigator, Lobbyist, Private Legal Investigator.

Graduate outcomes. 83.3% of Legal Studies (B.S.) graduates (12 graduates contacted) were employed in their field or continuing their education (One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report for graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, published July 1, 2026).

College-wide outcome. 89.2% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation (graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report published July 1, 2026).