Washington University in St Louis LL.M. in Taxation (Online) in 2027

WashU Law's online Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation is a 24-credit program for attorneys that you finish in 12 to 18 months, with live weekly sessions, three start dates a year and no admission test.

The online LL.M. in Taxation at WashU Law was designed by the school's residential faculty working with expert tax practitioners. It draws working attorneys from corporate law, estate planning and general practice who want to handle tax matters. You apply with a Juris Doctor (J.D.). The Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aren't needed.

Small classes mean every participant joins the discussion, and you learn through the Socratic method, which mirrors conversation in a law practice. The school's own pitch is direct: most attorneys without previous experience in tax law who want to work in that space will benefit from an LL.M. in Taxation.

Graduates move into several paths that the school names: tax attorney in private practice or at a law firm, in-house counsel at a corporation or financial institution, government counsel within agencies such as the IRS, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or Treasury Department, estate and wealth planning attorney, and tax policy analyst or adviser.

The school says the degree prepares you for leadership roles in law firms, accounting firms, corporations or government agencies. It also cites a median advertised salary of $149,200 annually for holders of an LL.M. in Taxation. An adjunct tax controversy expert quoted by the school says graduates can become generalists in tax law, which opens doors to roles they might not otherwise reach.

Where this degree can lead: Masters in Taxation Jobs.

Who It Fits

• Attorneys new to tax: the school says lawyers without previous tax experience who want to work in that space will benefit, and the first nine credits cover the core subjects.
• Corporate, estate planning and general practice lawyers: the school says the program draws these professionals to expand what they can do in tax-related matters.
• Employees of AllCampus Workplace Network partners: an eligible employee gets 10% off tuition, and a WashU staff member gets 50% off.
• Veterans and service members: the Yellow Ribbon benefit is open to admitted students with the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% rate, as well as active duty service members and their spouses.
• Lawyers who want to work for the government or inside a company: the school lists government counsel at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the SEC or Treasury, and in-house counsel at a corporation or financial institution.

You start with nine core credits: Federal Income Taxation, Corporate Taxation and Partnership Taxation. Federal Income Taxation is a survey of how individual taxpayers are taxed, and the school strongly recommends finishing it before Corporate or Partnership Taxation. Corporate Taxation digs into the statutes, regulations and case law on taxing corporations, and Partnership Taxation teaches the basic rules for taxing partnerships under the Internal Revenue Code.

Your other 15 credits are advanced tax electives. State and Local Taxation covers state corporation income taxes, franchise taxes, sales and use taxes and property taxes. Federal Tax Procedure (Civil) examines the administrative and judicial procedures for resolving federal tax disputes. Accounting for Tax Attorneys introduces tax accounting and financial disclosure for lawyers with little or no accounting exposure.

You can also take electives on estate and gift taxes, Tax-Exempt Organizations under Section 501(c), and fiduciary law under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Tax Research and Writing builds the research and writing skills characteristic of U.S. tax practice through a series of sequential exercises.

Standout Features

• Access to WashU Law Career Center advisers and the global alumni network
• Optional supervised research project or externship
• Same per-credit tuition as the other WashU Law online graduate law programs
• Small class sizes with live weekly sessions led by faculty and tax practitioners

It's a 24-credit degree, and you can finish in 12 to 18 months depending on your pace. The school admits new cohorts in fall, spring and summer. The next one begins January 25, 2027, and applications are due January 4, 2027.

For a capstone-style piece you may add one of two optional courses worth three credits each: a supervised research project, which produces a paper of at least 30 pages, double-spaced, or an externship that includes a weekly meeting with faculty and reflective assignments.

Electives are offered in rotating terms, so you plan your sequence around when each one runs.

Tuition is $2,375 per credit, which adds up to $57,000 for all 24 credits. The school estimates $1,500 more for books and supplies. Every online graduate law program at WashU Law bills at the same per-credit rate. Discounts reach several groups.

An eligible student employed by an AllCampus Workplace Network member may get 10% off, and WashU employees get 50% off. You can pay in up to five monthly installments each academic period, and the school offers merit-based and need-based scholarships.

If you're an eligible GI Bill student, Yellow Ribbon benefits are available.

24 credits at $2,375 a credit comes to $57,000 in tuition, before fees.

It's fully online. You work through asynchronous coursework when it suits your calendar, then meet for live weekly sessions led by WashU Law faculty and experienced tax practitioners. That structure leaves room for a full caseload and still gives you real-time conversation with classmates.

The Socratic method keeps those sessions active. The help doesn't stop after class: Career Center advisers hold individual counseling sessions and stay invested in graduates' long-term success, and as an online student you join WashU Law's global network from the outset.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

A July 2026 press release from AllCampus, the school's online program partner, carried in the Eastern Progress, describes the online programs as combining academic rigor with flexibility, so you can complete coursework on your own schedule while learning from distinguished scholars and industry professionals.

The same release calls WashU Law committed to expanding access to high quality, flexible online programs. In the 2026-27 U.S. News tax rankings, as reported by TaxProf Blog, Washington University is tied for ninth among law schools with graduate tax programs.

• Which electives run in the term I plan to start, and how do I order them after the core courses?
• How many credits per term should I take if I want to finish in 12 months instead of 18?
• Does my employer belong to the AllCampus Workplace Network, and how do I claim the 10% discount?
• Should I choose the supervised research paper or the externship if I want to work in-house?
• How do I split my payments into the five monthly installments?

• Best Master's in Taxation Rank 41 of 78, master's
• Online Master's in Taxation Rank 20 of 41, master's
• Best 100% Online Programs Rank 19 of 40, master's
• Accelerated Programs Rank 16 of 33, master's
• Private University Programs Rank 22 of 43, master's
• Internship or Practicum Rank 15 of 24, master's
• LLM in Taxation Rank 19 of 22, master's

• LL.M. in Taxation (In Person)

  LL.M., Master's

  On Campus Score 55.1

• Master of Legal Studies in Taxation (Online)

  M.L.S., Master's

  Fully Online $2,375 per credit Score 52.3

• CUNY Queens College

  Taxation

  New York Score 53.8

• LSU New Orleans

  Master of Science in Tax Accounting

  Louisiana Score 54.7

• University of North Texas

  Taxation and Data Analytics

  Texas Score 54.7

• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

  Online Master of Business Taxation

  Minnesota $1,695 per credit Score 54.9