# Accelerated JD program

In United States legal education, accelerated JD Program may refer to one of the following:
* A "3+3 JD program" or "BA to JD program" is a program in which students combine certain requirements of a bachelor's degree (usually a BA) with the requirements of a Juris Doctor degree. Students thus usually receive their bachelor's degree after completing the first year of law school. Typically, students complete the two degrees in six years rather than the usual seven. The undergraduate college and law school may either be independent institutions, or part of a single large university. Accelerated JD programs differ from most dual degree programs in that the degrees are of different levels, and are obtained sequentially rather than concurrently. Requirements for admission of undergraduates to such programs are typically higher than for general enrollment. Some programs further restrict enrollment to students in a specific prelaw major.
* A "2-year JD program" is a Juris Doctor degree that is offered independently of a bachelor's degree. Typically, students are required to complete the same number of credit hours as traditional three-year JD students, but in a more condensed period.
U.S. News & World Report stated that as a result of student concerns about the time and cost (both in terms of tuition and the opportunity cost associated with foregoing a salary for three years) required to complete a law degree, there has been an emerging trend to develop accelerated JD programs.

## List of 3+3 accelerated JD programs

| State | Undergraduate college | Undergraduate degree and major | Law School | Remarks |
| Arkansas | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | BA in Philosophy | William H. Bowen School of Law | |
| Arizona | University of Arizona | BA in Law | James E. Rogers College of Law | |
| California | California State University Northridge | BA | Southwestern Law School | |
| California | University of Southern California | BA/BS | USC Gould School of Law | |
| California | University of the Pacific | BA/BS | McGeorge School of Law | |
| Colorado | Colorado College | BA/BS | Columbia Law School | |
| Connecticut | Quinnipiac University | BA/BS | Quinnipiac University School of Law | |
| District of Columbia | Catholic University of America | BA | Columbus School of Law | |
| Florida | Stetson University | College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration | Stetson University College of Law | |
| Florida | University of South Florida | Honors College | Stetson University College of Law | |
| Florida | University of West Florida | | Stetson University College of Law | |
| Florida | Jacksonville University | BA/BS/BBA | Florida Coastal School of Law | |
| Florida | University of Central Florida | BA (any) | Touro Law Center | |
| Georgia | Georgia State University | BA | Georgia State University College of Law | |
| Georgia | Mercer University | BA | Mercer University School of Law | |
| Georgia | Piedmont College | BA | Mercer University School of Law | |
| Georgia | University of Georgia | BA/BS/BBA | University of Georgia School of Law | |
| Georgia | Wesleyan College | BA | Mercer University School of Law | Restricted to certain majors. |
| Illinois | DePaul University | BA | DePaul University College of Law | |
| Iowa | University of Iowa | BA/BS | University of Iowa College of Law | |
| Iowa | Drake University | BA/BS | Drake University Law School | |
| Kansas | Washburn University | BA | Washburn University School of Law | |
| Kansas | Baker University | BA/BS (any) | Washburn University School of Law | |
| Kansas | Fort Hays State University | BA/BS (any) | Washburn University School of Law | |
| Kansas | University of Kansas | BA/BS (any) | University of Kansas Law School | |
| Louisiana | Newcomb-Tulane College | BA/BS (any) | Tulane Law School | |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State University | College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mass Communication, Coast and the Environment | Paul M. Hebert Law Center | |
| Maryland | University of Maryland | BA/BS (any) | University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law | University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) students accepted into the 3+3 Dual Degree Program may count 30 UM Carey Law credits toward completion of the UMCP baccalaureate degree. Degrees are awarded separately: upon completion of 30 law school credits, students must provide a UM Carey Law transcript to UMCP and apply for conferral of the baccalaureate degree. |
| Massachusetts | Western New England University | Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business and Engineering | Western New England University School of Law | |
| Minnesota | Hamline University College of Liberal Arts | BA in American Law and Legal Systems | Hamline University School of Law |
| Nebraska | Creighton University College of Business | BA (business) | Creighton University School of Law | |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Institute of Technology, Albert Dorman Honors College | BS | Seton Hall Law School | |
| New Jersey | Rutgers–Camden | BA (any) | Rutgers School of Law–Camden | |
| New York | Adelphi University | BA/BS | Albany Law School | |
| New York | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | BS | Albany Law School | |
| New York | College of Saint Rose | BA (any) | Albany Law School | |
| New York | Columbia University | BA | Columbia Law School | Students do not receive BA until they have completed law school |
| New York | Cornell University | BA/BS | Cornell Law School | LSAT scores not required if applicant has SAT or ACT scores on hand |
| New York | Fordham University College of Business Administration | BS (business) | Fordham University School of Law | |
| New York | Hartwick College | | Albany Law School | |
| New York | Hofstra University | BA (many majors) | Maurice A. Deane School of Law | |
| New York | Pace University | BA/BS | Pace Law School | |
| New York | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | BS in Management or Science, Technology and Society | Albany Law School, Columbia Law School | |
| New York | Russell Sage College | BA (any) | Albany Law School | |
| New York | SUNY Cobleskill | | Albany Law School | |
| New York | Union College | BA in Law and Public Policy | Albany Law School | |
| New York | University at Albany, SUNY | BA/BS | Albany Law School | |
| New York | University at Buffalo, SUNY | BA | University at Buffalo School of Law | |
| North Dakota | University of North Dakota | BA in Political Science, Philosophy and Religious Studies or BS in Criminal Justice | University of North Dakota School of Law | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma State University | BA | Oklahoma City University School of Law, University of Oklahoma College of Law, University of Tulsa College of Law | |
| Ohio | John Carroll University | BA (any) | Case Western Reserve University School of Law | |
| Ohio | University of Cincinnati | BA/BS (College of Arts and Sciences) | University of Cincinnati College of Law | |
| Oregon | Oregon State University College of Liberal Arts | BA/BS (various majors) | Lewis & Clark Law School | |
| Oregon | Willamette University College of Liberal Arts | BA | Willamette University College of Law | |
| Oregon | Oregon State University College of Liberal Arts | BA/BS (various majors) | Willamette University College of Law | |
| Pennsylvania | Arcadia University | BA | Thomas R. Kline School of Law | |
| Pennsylvania/ Florida | Chatham University | | Stetson University College of Law | |
| Pennsylvania | Drexel University | BA/BS | Thomas R. Kline School of Law | |
| Pennsylvania | Elizabethtown College | BA/BS | Thomas R. Kline School of Law | |
| Pennsylvania | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | BA/BS | Pennsylvania State University School of Law or Widener University Delaware Law School | |
| Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania | BA/BS/BSN/BSE/BAS | University of Pennsylvania Law School | |
| Rhode Island | Roger Williams University | BA | Roger Williams University School of Law | |
| South Carolina | University of South Carolina | BA/BS | University of South Carolina School of Law | |
| Tennessee | University of Memphis College of Arts and Sciences | BA (Philosophy) | Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law | |
| Tennessee | University of Memphis College of Professional and Liberal Studies | BPS (Legal Studies) | Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law | |
| Tennessee | University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences | BS, BA (various majors) | University of Tennessee College of Law | |
| Virginia | Christopher Newport University | BA/BS (any) | Antonin Scalia Law School | |
| Virginia | George Mason University | BA/BS (any) | Antonin Scalia Law School | |
| Virginia | Radford University | BA/BS (any) | Antonin Scalia Law School | |
| Virginia | University of Mary Washington | BA/BS (any) | Antonin Scalia Law School | |
| Washington | Eastern Washington University | BA/BS (any) | Gonzaga University School of Law | |
| Washington | Gonzaga University | BA (Religious Studies) | Gonzaga University School of Law | |
| Washington | Whitworth University | BA/BS (any) | Gonzaga University School of Law | |

## List of 2-year accelerated JD programs

Unless otherwise indicated, all students enter the accelerated JD program at the start of the school's summer term. At Southwestern Law, the summer term starts in June; at the other listed schools, the summer term starts in May.
The May/June start of most accelerated programs is compatible with the bar examination schedule of all U.S. jurisdictions. Bar exams throughout the U.S. take place during the week containing the last Wednesday in July; almost all jurisdictions also offer an exam during the week containing the last Wednesday in February. Washburn's January starting date is compatible with February examinations.
| State | Law school | Link | Remarks |
| Arizona | James E. Rogers College of Law | | "The Advanced JD Program for non-US lawyers is for those who have studied law outside the US, but now wish to expand their professional opportunities by earning a US law degree." |
| California | Southwestern Law School | | The first accelerated 2-year program in the U.S., operating since 1974. |
| California | Pepperdine University School of Law | | "After an initial summer session beginning in May, the Accelerated Option students will enroll in the regular first year JD classes and continue to matriculate in the regular JD program." |
| Florida | Shepard Broad College of Law | https://www.law.nova.edu/admission/foreign-educated-applicants.html | |
| Florida | Stetson University College of Law | | "Stetson Law will allow qualified foreign-educated attorneys the opportunity to apply as transfer applicants for fall entry and complete the J.D. in an accelerated manner, typically two years if attending on a full-time basis. Candidates may also apply for part-time consideration. Following graduation, candidates may sit for the Bar Examination in any state." |
| Florida | Western Michigan University Cooley Law School | | Campus in Tampa Bay, FL. Additional campuses in Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, MI. |
| Hawai'i | University of Hawai'i William S. Richardson School of Law | | Hawai'i's only law school offers a 2-year Advanced JD Program for graduates of non-US law schools. Students admitted to the accelerated JD program receive the same degree as other JD students and are eligible to take the bar examination in all U.S. jurisdictions, if they meet the other requirements for admission. |
| Illinois | Northwestern University School of Law | | Northwestern Law was the first and only top tier law school to offer a 2-year accelerated JD program. This program has since been replaced with a 2-year JD for foreign-educated attorneys. |
| Indiana | Indiana University Bloomington | https://law.indiana.edu/admission/jd-apply/advanced-standing.html | Advanced standing |
| Kansas | University of Kansas School of Law | | Students begin the program in May. Can also still participate in a wide range of Study Abroad options in 2nd year. |
| Massachusetts | Suffolk University Law School | |
| Michigan | Western Michigan University Cooley Law School | | Campuses in Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, MI. Additional campus in Tampa Bay, FL. |
| Nebraska | Creighton University School of Law | | "Students in the program can participate in summer study-abroad program "From Nuremberg to The Hague," in which students travel to Germany and The Netherlands to study international law, the impact of the Holocaust on the law, and the prosecution of war criminals and perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity." |
| New Jersey | Rutgers Law School | | "The Foreign Lawyer Program creates an opportunity for those who have earned a law degree abroad and practiced law outside the United States to receive up to 28 advance standing credits and earn an accelerated J.D. degree upon the completion of 56 credits at Rutgers Law School." |
| New York | Albany Law School | | Eliminates tuition costs for the third year. Students will have the option of starting in January or May, and after 24 months of intensive study will be ready to sit for the February or July bar exam, respectively. |
| New York | Pace University School of Law | | "The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University’s Accelerated Program allows students to begin law school in January (spring term) and graduate within two and a half years, instead of the traditional three year full-time curriculum." |
| New York | Touro Law Center | | "Touro Law Center’s new accelerated degree program is an extraordinary opportunity for a select group of qualified applicants to complete all requirements for the Juris Doctor degree during a concentrated and rigorous 24-month period and to sit for a Bar Examination only 26 months after they begin their law school studies." |
| Ohio | University of Dayton School of Law | | |
| Pennsylvania | Thomas R. Kline School of Law(Previously Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University) | | Students in the Fast Forward accelerated JD program take up to 17 credits per semester for six consecutive semesters over two years. |
| Rhode Island | Roger Williams University | | Program takes 2 and 1/2 years to complete |
| Tennessee | University of Tennessee College of Law | | Allows students to finish in 2 and 1/2 years instead of 3 |
| Virginia | Regent University School of Law | | Program began in 2013. It allows students to attend over the summer, instead of getting internships, to finish in only 2 years. |
| Virginia | University of Richmond School of Law | | "Lawyers with a first degree in law from outside the United States who are admitted to our program receive one year’s credit toward their Juris Doctor degree. This enables them to graduate in two years but still to receive the same J.D. degree that our three-year students receive." |
| Vermont | Vermont Law School | | |
| Washington | Gonzaga University School of Law | | Program will start again in 2017 after previously starting in 2014 and being discontinued after one year. |
| Washington | University of Washington Law School | |