The Colleges of Law

The Colleges of Law is a nonprofit law school serving working adults through two Southern California campuses and a flexible hybrid pathway. The Ventura campus is the location listed in this inventory; the same school also operates in Santa Barbara. Its programs center on the Juris Doctor, with evening classes designed for people balancing work and family, plus a hybrid J.D. that combines online instruction with required monthly residencies. This is a focused professional school rather than a broad undergraduate college, and applicants should compare the attendance format, state bar eligibility and total cost before choosing a track.

J.D. choices and who they serve

The part-time J.D. is an 84-credit program that meets three evenings each week and is designed to take about three and a half to four years. During fall and spring, Ventura classes meet Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; summer classes run Monday through Thursday, with some Saturday electives. The Hybrid J.D. delivers about 70% of instruction online and requires monthly on-site residencies in Pasadena, so students should not assume those residencies take place at the Ventura campus. The school also lists a Master of Business, Law, and Technology program, but it is not currently accepting applications. Review the current academic programs to confirm which offerings are open for your start term.

Admissions, accreditation and California bar eligibility

The Colleges of Law is institutionally accredited by WSCUC, and its J.D. program is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. The school describes its J.D. graduates as eligible to sit for the California Bar Exam. It is not an ABA-accredited law school, so students considering practice outside California should independently check that jurisdiction’s rules before enrolling. Applicants can choose an on-campus or hybrid J.D. route, but each has its own prerequisites and attendance expectations. Use the admissions and application page to review current requirements and deadlines.

2026–27 tuition and financial support

For the 2026–27 academic year, the published rate is $1,019 per credit for on-site and fully online J.D. courses and $1,044 per credit for the Hybrid J.D. The school lists a 10% tuition reduction for military members, veterans and dependents. Additional program fees, books, housing and personal costs affect the full budget, so request the cost estimate for your own schedule. Scholarships include a $1,000 Alumni award for qualified incoming J.D. students who submit a recommendation from an alum, and a Dean’s award of up to $2,000 for eligible new students with a 3.2 undergraduate GPA and a record of service and academic achievement. Other awards support first-generation students, environmental law, mediation training and bar preparation; eligibility and award windows vary. Compare the current tuition and financial-aid details with scholarship rules before calculating how much you will need to borrow.

Ventura and Santa Barbara locations

Ventura campus: 4475 Market Street, Ventura, CA 93003-7774; campus contact (805) 765-9300; Ventura Admissions (805) 765-9302. Fall and spring J.D. classes meet Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6:30–9:30 p.m.; summer classes meet Monday through Thursday, with some Saturday electives. These are class times, not a posted schedule for walk-in administrative visits, so arrange an appointment before coming to campus. Santa Barbara campus: 20 E. Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA; campus contact (805) 979-9860. Both locations host the on-campus J.D.; the hybrid program’s monthly in-person residency is in Pasadena. The school’s campus contact page has the current addresses and phone numbers.

Student experience and questions to ask

Student comments often appreciate the accessible admissions staff, supportive faculty, flexible scheduling and the ability to continue working while studying. Some reviews describe administrative disorganization or changes to the academic schedule, while other recent students say that coaching and enrollment support helped them feel prepared. Since student accounts vary by cohort and can reflect different programs, ask how often the schedule changes, how advising works, and how residencies or evening classes fit your work commitments. Read several Ventura student reviews alongside the current catalog and bar disclosures.