Abraham Lincoln University
Abraham Lincoln University — Online Programs, Tuition & Accreditation
Abraham Lincoln University
All programs offered completely via distance education
100 West Broadway, Suite 600, Glendale, California 91210
Phone: (213) 252-5100
Website: www.alu.edu
Quick Facts
| Type | 4-year, Private for-profit |
| Accreditation | Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) — accredited since January 2011, next review January 2029 |
| Total Enrolment | 112 (25 undergraduate, 87 graduate) |
| Student-to-Faculty Ratio | 2 to 1 |
| Online Programs | Both undergraduate and graduate — 100% of students enrolled exclusively in distance education |
| Awards Offered | Certificates (less than 1 year, 1–2 years), Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's degree, Doctor's degree (professional practice) |
| Carnegie Classification | Special Focus Four-Year: Law Schools |
| Religious Affiliation | None |
| Federal Financial Aid | Yes — eligible for Pell Grants and Direct Loans |
| Military/Veteran Friendly | Yes — Yellow Ribbon Program, credit for military training, dedicated veteran support, DoD Voluntary Education Partnership MOU |
| Credit Accepted | Advanced Placement (AP) credits |
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Admissions Policy | Open admissions |
| Cohort Default Rate | 0.0% (2021) |
A Note on Accreditation
Abraham Lincoln University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). DEAC is recognised by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA, but it is categorised as a national accreditor rather than a regional/institutional accreditor. This distinction matters: credits from nationally accredited institutions may not transfer to regionally accredited schools, and some employers and graduate programmes may not recognise degrees from nationally accredited institutions in the same way. If you plan to transfer credits or pursue further education after completing a degree here, verify transfer credit acceptance with your target institution before enrolling. For more on this distinction, see our accreditation guide.
Tuition & Fees (2024–2025)
| Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | $10,440 per year |
| Graduate Tuition | $7,920 per year |
| Graduate Fees | $240 per year |
| Books & Supplies (estimated) | $1,062 per year |
| Total Estimated Cost — Off Campus | $37,294 per year |
| Total Estimated Cost — Living with Family | $16,702 per year |
As a private institution, ALU charges the same tuition rate regardless of state residency. A tuition payment plan is available. Figures are sourced from NCES College Navigator — verify directly with the institution before making financial decisions.
Financial Aid Snapshot (2023–2024)
| Students Receiving Any Financial Aid | 100% of full-time beginning students |
| Students Receiving Grants/Scholarships | 67% (federal Pell Grants only — no institutional or state aid awarded) |
| Students Taking Federal Loans | 100% |
| All Undergrads — Average Pell Grant | $5,455 |
| All Undergrads — Average Federal Loan | $11,346 |
| Average Net Price (2023–2024) | $28,584 |
Average Net Price by Family Income (2023–2024)
| $0 – $30,000 | $28,584 |
| $30,001 and above | Data not available (too few students in these brackets to report) |
Note: The average net price increased significantly from $24,825 (2022–2023) to $28,584 (2023–2024). Net price data is only available for the lowest income bracket due to the institution's small size.
Retention & Graduation
| Full-Time Student Retention | 33% (students who began Fall 2023 and returned Fall 2024) |
| Graduation Rate (150% normal time) | Data reported but figures too small to display meaningfully |
A 33% retention rate means roughly two-thirds of first-time students did not return for a second year. This is below the national average and prospective students should consider this when evaluating the institution. Retention figures should be interpreted with caution for very small institutions where a few students can significantly shift percentages.
Student Demographics (Fall 2024)
| Undergraduate Attendance | 100% full-time |
| Gender (Undergraduate) | 68% female, 32% male |
| Age (Undergraduate) | 80% aged 25 and over, 20% aged 24 and under |
| Residency | 100% in-state (California) |
| Graduate Attendance | 100% full-time |
Online Programs Offered
Business, Management & Marketing
- Business Administration and Management, General (Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's)
- Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management (Postbaccalaureate Certificate)
Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (Certificate, Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's)
- Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism (Master's)
Legal Professions & Studies
- Law (Juris Doctor — professional practice doctorate)
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal (Certificate, Associate's)
- Legal Studies (Bachelor's, Master's)
All programmes are offered entirely via distance education. Programme availability may change — verify current offerings directly with ALU.
Important note regarding the law programme: ALU's Juris Doctor programme is not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Graduates may be eligible to sit for the California Bar Exam under California's rules, but a non-ABA-accredited JD is not accepted for bar admission in most other states. Prospective law students should research bar eligibility requirements in their intended state of practice before enrolling.
Student Services Available to Online Students
- Academic and career counselling
- Disability services — learn more
Military & Veteran Support
| Yellow Ribbon Program | Yes — participant in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program |
| Military Credit | Credit awarded for military training |
| Veteran Support | Dedicated point of contact for veterans, servicemembers, and families |
| DoD Partnership | Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU |
| GI Bill Recipients (2023–2024) | 3 graduate students (amounts withheld for privacy) |
| DoD Tuition Assistance Recipients | 1 undergraduate student |
| Veteran Tuition Policies | www.alu.edu/military |
Important Links
| Admissions | www.alu.edu |
| Apply Online | www.alu.edu/apply |
| Financial Aid | www.alu.edu/alu-admissions/federal-financial-aid |
| Net Price Calculator | www.alu.edu/net-price-calculator |
| Disability Services | www.alu.edu/alu-admissions/consumer-information |
| Mission Statement | www.alu.edu/about/alu-mission |
About Abraham Lincoln University
Abraham Lincoln University is a small, private, for-profit institution based in Glendale, California, that operates entirely online. Founded with a focus on legal education, it is classified by Carnegie as a Special Focus law school and is best known for its Juris Doctor programme — though it also offers degrees in business, criminal justice, and legal studies at multiple levels from certificates through to master's degrees. ALU is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), a national accreditor recognised by the U.S. Department of Education. With just 112 students and a 2:1 student-to-faculty ratio, it offers a very small learning environment. Prospective students should note the national (rather than regional) accreditation status, which may affect credit transferability, and should research the specific implications for their intended career path — particularly for the law programme, which is not ABA-accredited.
Community Discussion
Have you attended Abraham Lincoln University or are you considering it? Share your experience or ask questions in our Course & Program Reviews forum.
Information on this page is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) College Navigator database and the institution's official website. Data reflects the most recently available reporting year. Details may have changed — always verify directly with Abraham Lincoln University before making enrolment or financial decisions. Last updated: April 2026.