Legal studies master’s rankings · Florida

Best Master’s in Legal Studies Programs in Florida

Florida State, UF, Miami, and FIU offer four reviewed legal master’s choices based in Florida, with different resident prices, subjects, and online attendance models. Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration oversees Medicaid and the licensure and regulation of health facilities. For a Florida employee in healthcare operations, that makes health law a practical lens for comparing master's in legal studies programs. Start with the processes you already touch: provider enrollment, records, internal policies or reimbursement documentation. Then compare the legal coursework with a broader healthcare administration degree and decide which kind of knowledge your next responsibility calls for.

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How These Programs Compare for Florida

Florida applicants now have four distinct local choices. FSU remains the first comparison for a qualified resident seeking healthcare regulation with adjustable asynchronous study. UF adds a detailed financial, tax and estate curriculum and an optional Jacksonville hybrid route. Miami broadens the local menu into real estate, construction and a faculty-guided capstone; FIU offers a concentrated one-year live-class alternative. The order prioritizes subject fit, resident pricing and the actual attendance commitment rather than assuming all Florida legal master's programs serve the same goal.

4reviewed universities are based in Florida. The other 2 choices are online alternatives based elsewhere. Known published enrollment exclusions are applied. Confirm authorization for your address and start date with the university. Our ranking criteria.

Compare the Legal Studies Options for Florida

Scroll across the table to compare the study plan and price.

UniversityStudy FormatCreditsDisplayed Degree Price
Florida State UniversityCollege of Law’s Online Juris Master (J.M.)Based in this stateOnlinePart time, with adjustable course loads30$45,806.70Calculated base tuition2026–2027
University of FloridaLevin College of Law’s Master of Studies in Law (MSL)Based in this stateOnlineAs little as one year; most students take two years30$43,359Published degree tuition
University of MiamiUniversity of Miami School of Law’s Online Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.)Based in this stateOnline30$42,270Calculated base tuition2026–2027
Florida International UniversityFIU College of Law’s Online Juris Master (JM)Based in this stateOnlineOne year30$24,726.30Published degree tuition
Seton Hall UniversitySeton Hall Law School’s Online Master of Legal Studies (MLS)Online alternative · NJOnlineTwo years part time31$48,980Calculated base tuition2026–2027
University of UtahS.J. Quinney College of Law’s Online Master of Legal Studies (MLS)Online alternative · UTOnline3 semesters30$33,702.90Calculated base tuition

Tuition amounts use the conditions shown in each card; fees and academic years vary. Table controls change this comparison view. The full reviews below retain their original ranking order.

The Florida Legal Studies Rankings

01Program Comparison Online

Florida State University

College of Law’s Online Juris Master (J.M.)

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State's Health Care Regulation concentration becomes especially competitive for a resident who qualifies for the published Florida JM rate. At $683.05 per credit for 30 credits, calculated tuition is $20,491.50, including the stated distance-learning fee. The asynchronous program allows adjustable course loads and electives across concentration lines, useful when your healthcare responsibilities also touch contracts or privacy.

Where it stands out. Use an AHCA provider document to ask which courses would help you interpret a requirement and explain it inside your organization. The combination of healthcare focus and semester flexibility earns FSU first consideration for a working Florida applicant.

What to weigh. Residency classification must be confirmed individually. FIU's one-year live program may suit someone who wants a faster cohort experience, while Seton Hall has a named pharmaceutical and medical-device option. Compare those curricular differences before treating FSU's resident price as the only deciding factor.

Curriculum, Admission, Tuition, and Sources

How the Program Works

  • Fully online and asynchronous
  • Five concentrations with cross-concentration electives
  • Flexible semester course loads

Documented Subjects and Concentrations

  • Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Technology Risk Management
  • Employment Law and HR Risk Management
  • Financial Regulation and Compliance
  • Health Care Regulation
  • Legal Risk Management, Contracting, and Compliance

Tuition and Rate Conditions

2026–2027. Calculated nonresident base tuition for 30 credits. The 2026–2027 page lists $683.05 per credit for Florida residents and $1,260.10 after the conditional out-of-state scholarship. Published rates include the $30 distance learning fee.

$1,526.89 per credit × 30 credits = $45,806.70 in base tuition.

Florida State tuition source ↗

Military Benefit Information

FSU explicitly permits VA education benefits and military tuition assistance for the online JM. Eligible out-of-state veterans and dependents may qualify for tuition waivers.

Florida State military policy ↗

University Sources

Program facts reviewed .

Study format
Online
Degree credits
30
Study timeline
Part time, with adjustable course loads
Tuition per credit
$1,526.89
Calculated base tuition
$45,806.70
02Program Comparison Online

University of Florida

Levin College of Law’s Master of Studies in Law (MSL)

Gainesville, Florida

UF gives Florida applicants a local alternative when their legal questions concern financial reporting, estate administration or business taxation. Its resident MSL tuition is published at about $22,355 before additional charges, while the curriculum names courses in fiduciary administration, trusts and withholding obligations. FSU remains an important comparison for a healthcare-focused resident; UF deserves particular attention when financial subject depth matters more than a general compliance label.

Where it stands out. A Jacksonville-area applicant can also compare the optional weekend hybrid route with studying entirely online. Start with a specific professional task and ask which concentration courses address the underlying legal rules.

What to weigh. Do not assume that living in Florida automatically settles tuition residency. Confirm the classification and the course plan. Miami's real-estate and construction track or FIU's live health-law teaching may fit a different objective better, even when UF's resident price is attractive.

Curriculum, Admission, Tuition, and Sources

How the Program Works

  • All 30 credits can be completed online; Jacksonville hybrid study is a separate option.
  • Online coursework is asynchronous with optional live sessions.
  • The curriculum requires 12 foundation credits before further subject and elective study.
  • UF distinguishes named concentrations from additional areas of study.

Documented Subjects and Concentrations

  • Financial & Tax Compliance
  • Healthcare Compliance
  • Financial Services & Estate Planning
  • General Legal Studies

Admission Details

  • No LSAT or GRE scores are required.
  • The application includes a statement of purpose, resume or CV, and transcripts.
  • Letters of recommendation are not required.

Tuition and Rate Conditions

Published nonresident tuition for 30 credits. Florida residents pay $745.14 per credit, with the university rounding its published program total to $22,355. Additional university fees and course materials apply.

$1,445.30 per credit × 30 credits = $43,359 in base tuition.

UF tuition source ↗

University Sources

Program facts reviewed .

Study format
Online
Degree credits
30
Study timeline
As little as one year; most students take two years
Tuition per credit
$1,445.30
Published degree tuition
$43,359
03Program Comparison Online

Miami gives the Florida list a distinct real-estate and construction pathway rather than another broadly labeled compliance degree. Its MLS also offers healthcare, technology, employment and wealth-management directions, with a writing or project capstone under faculty guidance. For someone comparing South Florida universities, that final assignment and wider subject menu are useful differences from FIU's banking, education and health-law focus.

Where it stands out. Consider Miami when you can identify a property, construction or industry-specific issue that you want to study in depth. Ask how the relevant electives would support a feasible capstone question without turning it into legal advice for a client.

What to weigh. FSU and UF publish lower tuition for eligible Florida residents, so Miami needs to earn its place through curriculum fit. Its predominantly asynchronous delivery also differs from FIU's regular live timetable. Compare the complete cost and expected faculty contact, not simply the shared Florida location.

Curriculum, Admission, Tuition, and Sources

How the Program Works

  • The 30-credit MLS has no on-campus requirement.
  • The program is predominantly asynchronous; full-time and part-time enrollment are available.
  • A three-credit writing or project capstone is required.
  • Fall, spring and summer starts are available.

Documented Subjects and Concentrations

  • General Legal Studies
  • Healthcare Law and Regulation
  • Law and Technology: Cybersecurity, Information Privacy, and AI
  • Employment Law and Human Resources Risk Management
  • Real Estate and Construction Law and Regulation
  • Wealth Management and Financial Services Law

Admission Details

  • A bachelor's degree and 3.00 cumulative GPA are normally required; applicants below that GPA with substantial work experience may be considered.
  • No legal prerequisites or standardized admission tests are required.
  • Applicants provide a personal statement, one recommendation, resume or CV, and transcripts.

Tuition and Rate Conditions

2026–2027. Calculated tuition for all 30 credits at the MLS program's current published $1,409 credit rate. The separate 2026–2027 attendance budget describes this rate within its estimated budget. Additional charges, materials and living costs are not included.

$1,409 per credit × 30 credits = $42,270 in base tuition.

Miami tuition source ↗

University Sources

Program facts reviewed .

Study format
Online
Degree credits
30
Tuition per credit
$1,409
Calculated base tuition
$42,270
04Program Comparison Online

Florida International University

FIU College of Law’s Online Juris Master (JM)

Miami, Florida

FIU gives Florida healthcare applicants a one-year Juris Master with live online instruction. Health Law is one of three concentrations, alongside Banking and Education, and the 30-credit curriculum uses courses designed for nonlawyers. That creates a clear alternative to FSU's asynchronous, adjustable-load approach: you can compare regular scheduled discussion with greater control over when you complete coursework.

Where it stands out. If you want instructors and classmates to discuss legal documents with you in real time, ask how the health-law courses assess analysis of provider or organizational risk. AHCA materials can serve as examples of the questions you hope to address.

What to weigh. FIU describes attendance across three days a week, including weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. Protect that time before choosing the faster completion plan. FSU's resident tuition and flexible pace are substantial competitors, so request FIU's complete degree bill with its actual weekly timetable.

Curriculum, Admission, Tuition, and Sources

How the Program Works

  • Banking, education, and health law concentrations
  • Live online format
  • Weekday evening and Saturday morning classes

Documented Subjects and Concentrations

  • Banking
  • Education
  • Health Law

Tuition and Rate Conditions

Published approximate tuition for the 30-credit remote Juris Master. University fees are approximately $199 per term; books and living expenses are additional.

$824.21 per credit × 30 credits = $24,726.30 in base tuition.

FIU tuition source ↗

University Sources

Program facts reviewed .

Study format
Online
Degree credits
30
Study timeline
One year
Tuition per credit
$824.21
Published degree tuition
$24,726.30
05Program Comparison Online

Seton Hall belongs beside Florida's two JM programs when your healthcare interest extends into hospitals, pharmaceuticals or medical devices. Its 31-credit MLS has separate Health and Hospital Law and Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Law and Compliance choices. Foundational writing, contracts and civil liability precede industry study, and the online program has no required campus residency.

Where it stands out. A Florida employee working with provider documentation should compare the hospital-law route with FSU's Health Care Regulation concentration. If your work concerns regulated products instead, the pharmaceutical and device concentration offers a different subject emphasis worth investigating.

What to weigh. Choose the concentration from its actual course list, not the assumption that all healthcare programs cover the same work. A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required to graduate. Compare the full tuition offer with FSU's resident calculation and FIU's one-year live schedule before paying for greater specialization.

Curriculum, Admission, Tuition, and Sources

How the Program Works

  • 31-credit degree
  • No campus residency requirement
  • No GRE or LSAT

Documented Subjects and Concentrations

  • Corporate Compliance
  • Health and Hospital Law
  • Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Law and Compliance
  • Privacy Law and Cyber Security
  • Sports Law and Compliance

Admission Details

  • No GRE or LSAT

Tuition and Rate Conditions

2026–2027. Calculated tuition for the 31-credit MLS. Add the $425 university fee in a standard semester and $230 for the MLS summer semester, plus books and other expenses.

$1,580 per credit × 31 credits = $48,980 in base tuition.

Seton Hall tuition source ↗

University Sources

Program facts reviewed .

Study format
Online
Degree credits
31
Study timeline
Two years part time
Tuition per credit
$1,580
Calculated base tuition
$48,980
06Program Comparison Online

Utah adds a fixed, three-semester alternative to the Florida comparison. The 30-credit online MLS requires ten credits each semester and offers an optional Healthcare Law concentration. For someone who wants a defined completion calendar, that structure is more specific than an open-ended part-time plan and gives you a different pace to weigh against FIU's one-year live teaching.

Where it stands out. Ask how the healthcare concentration fits within the ten-credit semester load and which assignments develop legal analysis for provider operations. Bring an AHCA document to compare Utah's approved healthcare coursework with FSU's Health Care Regulation concentration.

What to weigh. At $1,123.43 per credit, calculated tuition is $33,702.90 before applicable fees. FSU's qualified resident rate is lower and permits adjustable loads. Utah therefore needs to fit both your academic interest and your capacity for ten credits at a time, not just your preferred graduation date.

Curriculum, Admission, Tuition, and Sources

How the Program Works

  • The program requires 30 credits across three semesters.
  • Students enroll in 10 credits per semester.
  • An optional healthcare law concentration is available.

Documented Subjects and Concentrations

  • Healthcare Law

Admission Details

  • A bachelor's degree and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 are required.
  • Applicants should demonstrate professional experience and writing ability.
  • No GRE, GMAT, MAT or LSAT required.

Tuition and Rate Conditions

Published UOnline MLS tuition per credit; consult the university tuition chart for applicable fees.

$1,123.43 per credit × 30 credits = $33,702.90 in base tuition.

Utah tuition source ↗

University Sources

Program facts reviewed .

Study format
Online
Degree credits
30
Study timeline
3 semesters
Tuition per credit
$1,123.43
Calculated base tuition
$33,702.90

Plan Your Next Step

Putting the Florida Resident Rate in the Right Budget

FSU's Florida-resident rate changes the tuition discussion. FSU's Juris Master tuition page publishes a Florida resident rate separately from its nonresident rate. Request your residency classification and a bill for the course load you intend to take. Then compare the schedule in our Florida State review with FIU's live online Juris Master. The MLS cost guide provides a framework for adding fees and arranging payments. A resident classification answers a price question, while the choice between live and asynchronous teaching still needs its own answer.

Deciding How Quickly You Can Sustain the Work

Utah's online MLS is a full-time program with ten credits in each of three semesters. For a Florida professional comparing it with local alternatives, put that enrollment commitment beside your actual work calendar before interpreting a shorter timeline as an advantage. Ask how several simultaneous courses divide their reading and assessment deadlines. If your goal involves healthcare, use the healthcare legal studies rankings to compare subject fit independently of speed. A degree you can finish quickly is useful only if you can give the coursework enough attention throughout the planned year.

Comparing Florida Health-Law and Administration Degrees

Use AHCA's provider resources to identify the documents and rules closest to your work. Ask MLS programs about health regulation, privacy, contracting and compliance investigations, including how students apply those subjects in writing. A management degree may offer more budgeting or operations study, while an MLS should give you sustained legal analysis. Check the exact tuition applicable to your residency and program. A university's general graduate tuition page may use a different rate from its online law master's.

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration supplies the state materials discussed here. Use them to question the curriculum, rather than assuming an MLS teaches the law of your state.

Using Legal Studies in Your Florida Career

Healthcare compliance is easiest to evaluate through a specific workplace task. Bring a proposed responsibility, such as reviewing a policy or organizing an audit response, to a conversation with your manager. Ask which legal skills would help and whether tuition support is possible. Clinical practice requirements remain a separate matter from administrative legal education.

Compliance Officer Pay in Florida

10th percentile pay
$44,130
Median annual pay
$74,920
90th percentile pay
$127,420

Florida has an estimated 29,680 compliance officer jobs. The occupation’s median annual wage is $74,920, with the 10th and 90th percentiles at $44,130 and $127,420.

BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 13-1041. Occupation wages cover workers with varied education and experience; these are not MLS graduate outcomes or starting salary estimates. BLS compliance officer wage data.

Sources for the Florida Comparison

  1. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
  2. BLS compliance officer employment and wages

Each ranking card contains the university sources for its curriculum, admission, delivery, and tuition details.

Questions About Legal Studies in Florida

Should Florida Healthcare Workers Compare an MLS With an MHA?

Yes. Compare legal research, regulation and compliance coursework with the budgeting, management and operations content of a healthcare administration degree. Your intended responsibilities should determine which curriculum earns its cost.

Which Tuition Should I Use for a Florida Online Legal Studies Master's?

Use the program's own published rate for your residency and entry year, then include required credits and fees. Confirm whether a specialized law-school rate applies before using general university graduate tuition.