Don’t let its small size fool you; the Northern Illinois University College of Law — which has less than 300 students — has a lot going for it. Take its campus, for example, which provides enough housing for each and every one of those students. The tuition cost is relatively low as well, at just over $22,000 for residents, meaning a low graduation debt level compared to other schools in the region.
One of just three public law schools in Illinois, it’s located in DeKalb, which is an hour from Chicago, so you can take a short road trip to catch Cub games if you wish. First-year students are enrolled in two mandatory, full-year courses: Basic Legal Research and Legal Writing and Advocacy, which use real-life exercises to help them develop legal analysis and intensive writing skills.
The school earlier partnered with Hesed House and Aunt Martha’s Health Center in Aurora to provide clinical opportunities for students wishing to get involved with indigent health issues in the area.