Golden Gate University, School of Law

What Golden Gate University, School of Law does

Golden Gate University is a nonprofit private educational institution founded in 1901 in San Francisco, with the School of Law constituting one of six academic units alongside the Ageno School of Business, Braden School of Taxation, School of Accounting, School of Psychology, and GGU Worldwide. It serves approximately 8,500 students — predominantly working adults with an average age of 34 — across four physical campuses (San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Seattle, and Wuhan) and online, reaching students in 60+ countries. The School of Law itself offers JD (full-time and JD Flex online), LLM (with specializations in Environmental, Estate Planning, IP, International, Taxation, and US Legal Studies), MLS, and SJD programs, supported by clinical and externship experiential learning.

The core technology stack is built on a Moodle-based LMS (GGU eLearning) for course delivery, with the newly announced GGU Digital platform intended to add AI-powered global education capabilities. The university is differentiated by its 100% AI-integrated curriculum claim, ABA accreditation for the School of Law, WASC accreditation for the broader institution, and Forbes-ranked programs in I-O Psychology (#2) and Taxation (#4).

The revenue model is tuition-driven, with recurring per-program tuition at degree levels ranging from associate through doctorate, supplemented by alumni donations and institutional partnerships. Pricing varies by program and is not publicly posted; students are directed to the financial aid office. Go-to-market is sales-led with a traditional admissions process, supported by digital channels (website, SEO, email), events, and partnerships with 50+ professional associations including AMA, PMI, SHRM, and AICPA. Customer segments include working adults and adult learners, law students, graduate business and tax students, and international students (12% of enrollment, 300+ from 47 countries). The 89% retention rate and 0% student loan cohort default rate (FY2020) indicate strong unit economics on the student side.

Name

Golden Gate University, School of Law

Legal name

Golden Gate University

Website

https://ggu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Golden Gate University is a nonprofit private university founded in 1901 in San Francisco, serving approximately 8,500 working adults (average age 34) across six schools including the School of Law, which offers JD, LLM, MLS, and SJD programs domestically and online to students in 60+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Legal Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

ABA-Accredited JD-Granting Law Schools (EDAHAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

LLM & Post-JD Graduate Law Programs (EDAHAIAC), Online / Hybrid Law Schools & Programs (EDAHAIAE), Specialty Law Schools (e.g., Tax, IP, International, Trial Advocacy) (EDAHAIAF), SJD / JSD & Doctoral Law Programs (EDAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Legal education
• Law degrees
• JD programs
• LLM programs
• Professional law school

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition across business, law, taxation, and other professional programs. Tuition varies by program level and delivery format.
2. Nonprofit Higher Education Institution: As a nonprofit institution founded in 1901, GGU operates primarily through tuition revenue with support from alumni donations and institutional partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Golden Gate University School of Law delivers accredited legal education programs to working adults and career-transitioning professionals, centered on the Juris Doctor (JD) offered full-time and via JD Flex online, plus graduate LLM degrees in Environmental, Estate Planning, Intellectual Property, International, Taxation, and US Legal Studies, a Master of Legal Studies (MLS), and an SJD in International Legal Studies. Programs include experiential clinics, externships, and specialty concentrations, with all GGU programs integrated with AI curriculum and delivered through online, hybrid, and on-campus formats.

Product overview

Golden Gate University School of Law offers a comprehensive suite of legal education programs, primarily serving working adults seeking to advance or transition into legal careers. The portfolio centers on the JD Program (offered full-time and via JD Flex online), supplemented by graduate law degrees including LLM specializations in Environmental, Estate Planning, Intellectual Property, International, Taxation, and US Legal Studies, an SJD doctoral program, and an MLS for non-lawyers. Experiential learning through clinics and externships provides practical training. The School is one of six schools under the broader Golden Gate University umbrella, which also includes AI-integrated business, taxation, accounting, and psychology programs, and recently announced GGU Digital, an AI global education platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GGU School of Law: The law school component of Golden Gate University offering JD, LLM, MLS, and SJD programs.
• GGU Digital
• GGU eLearning

Products and services

• JD Program (Juris Doctor) The Juris Doctor is the primary law degree preparing students for bar admission and legal practice. GGU offers both full-time on-campus and JD Flex online formats. Designed for individuals seeking to become practicing attorneys.
• LLM Programs (Master of Laws) Graduate law degrees for JD holders seeking specialization. Specializations include Environmental Law, Estate Planning and Trust Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Law, Taxation, and US Legal Studies.
• SJD Program (Doctor of Juridical Science) Doctoral program in International Legal Studies for advanced legal scholarship and research, designed for legal scholars and researchers.
• MLS Program (Master of Legal Studies) Designed for non-lawyer graduates seeking a deep understanding of essential topics, major concepts, and core theories of law and legal studies to prepare for legal-adjacent careers or transition to law school.
• LLM in Taxation Advanced degree for legal professionals seeking expertise in tax law and estate planning, offered through the Braden School of Taxation.
• Law School Clinics and Externships Clinical programs providing practical legal training through real client representation. Includes Veterans Legal Advocacy Clinic and Curricular Practical Training opportunities for international students.
• Career Development Services Resources, support, and opportunities to assist students and graduates in transitioning from law school to professional legal careers, including career consulting, workshops, and networking.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% Student Retention Rate

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wuhan Education InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Golden Gate University opened a China Center in Wuhan to expand global education partnerships, extending reach to Chinese students and institutions.
• Menlo CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partnership for cross-enrollment and educational collaboration between Golden Gate University and Menlo College.
• Palo Alto UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partnership for educational collaboration and student pathways between Golden Gate University and Palo Alto University.
• Tiffin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partnership for educational collaboration between Golden Gate University and Tiffin University.
• American Marketing Association (AMA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association partnership providing networking and career resources for GGU students in marketing fields.
• Project Management Institute (PMI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association partnership providing networking and professional development resources for GGU project management students.
• Bay Area CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional business association partnership connecting GGU with Bay Area employers and business community.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association partnership providing HR networking and career resources for GGU human resource management students.
• Patelco Credit UnionminorOthersPartnership to offer ongoing financial education seminars to GGU employees.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Southwestern Law School: Los Angeles-based ABA-accredited law school with a strong part-time/evening JD track and entertainment/IP specializations. Comparable to GGU School of Law in serving working professionals and offering multiple specialty tracks.
• Santa Clara University School of Law: Bay Area ABA-accredited law school offering JD and LLM programs with technology and intellectual property specializations. Comparable to GGU on geography, ABA accreditation, and JD/LLM mix.
• University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law: California ABA-accredited law school in Sacramento offering JD, LLM, and SJD programs with international and transactional specializations. Comparable to GGU School of Law in JD/LLM/SJD portfolio and California market positioning.
• UC Law SF (formerly UC Hastings): San Francisco-based ABA-accredited law school offering JD, LLM, and clinical programs. Comparable to GGU School of Law in core product set (JD + graduate law degrees) and Bay Area geographic market.
• University of San Francisco School of Law: San Francisco-based ABA-accredited law school with a strong part-time/evening JD track designed for working professionals. Directly comparable to GGU School of Law in geography, mission (working adults), and JD/LLM program mix.

Emerging players

• Northwestern California University School of Law: California-based distance-learning law school focused on working adults. Comparable to GGU's JD Flex online strategy and working-adult mission, though it operates outside the ABA-accredited segment.
• Mitchell Hamline School of Law: Minnesota-based ABA-accredited law school known for its hybrid/blended JD format serving working professionals. Comparable to GGU in its innovation around flexible/online JD delivery and working-adult positioning.

Broad incumbents

• UC Berkeley Law: Top-tier Bay Area ABA-accredited law school with JD, LLM, and JSD programs and elite placement outcomes. Comparable in core offering but competes with GGU for the same Bay Area talent pool at a much higher selectivity.
• Stanford Law School: Top-tier Bay Area ABA-accredited law school with JD, LLM, JSM, and JSD programs. Comparable to GGU School of Law in product surface (JD + graduate law degrees) but operates at a vastly different prestige, scale, and recruiting tier.
• Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law: California-based ABA-accredited law school with JD, LLM, and dispute resolution programs. Comparable in product surface and California footprint, though it operates at a larger and more selective scale than GGU.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ggu
• Facebookfacebook.com/goldengateuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ggulaw

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Golden Gate University, School of Law