Average Cost of Law School [2023]: Tuition + Expenses (2024)

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Cost by Year Cost by School Alternative Degrees Financial Aid Trends Additional Costs Sources

Last Updated: September 13, 2023

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Report Highlights. The price of law school is on the rise, with the average total tuition increasing by $1,398 per year.

  • The average total cost of law school is $220,335.
  • The average total cost of tuition alone for law school is $146,484, or $48,828 per year.
  • Living expenses on average total out at $73,851, or $24,617 per year.

Related reports include Average Cost of Medical School | Average Cost of a Master’s Degree | | Average Cost of a Doctorate Degree | Average Cost of Community College

Cost by Year

Since 2005 the cost of tuition has risen on average by $5,353 every 5 years. Historical data since the 1970s shows tuition has increased at all ABA-accredited law schools. Some experts attribute the rise in tuition to declines in student-faculty ratios, raises in faculty salaries, the development of legal clinics for practical education, the growth of administrative staff rosters, and expansive school construction projects.

  • On its current trend, the average yearly cost of tuition will be $50,226 for the 2023 to 2024 school year.
  • From 2024 to 2025, the average yearly cost of tuition is projected to be $51,624.
  • From 1997 to 2015, the rate of tuition at Minnesota Law School rose from $8,923 to $41,222.
  • From 1997 to 2015, the rate of tuition at Ohio State Law School rose from $6,412 to $28,577.

Average Cost of Law School [2023]: Tuition + Expenses (1)

Cost by School

Similarly to other fields of study, public schools on average end up being cheaper for tuition than private schools by roughly $21,126. Within the traditional 3 year study, the tuition gap between public and private schools increases to $63,378.

  • The most expensive law school tuition-wise is Columbia University at $78,278 a year.
  • The least expensive law school tuition-wise is Inter American University at $12,208 a year.
  • The most expensive law school due to annual living expenses is Stanford University at $46,233 a year.
  • The least expensive law school due to annual living expenses is the University of North Dakota at $12,600 a year.
  • The table below does take into account the cost differences between out-of-state and in-state expenses.
List of Schools
NameAnnual Tuition CostAnnual Living Expenses
Albany Law School

$55,470

$18,454

American University

$60,994

$25,238

Appalachian School of Law

$41,000

$23,800

Arizona State University

$48,570

$23,254

Ave Maria School of Law

$47,256

$45,822

Barry University

$41,050

$28,100

Baylor University

$61,877

$25,406

Belmont University

$52,440

$24,210

Boston College

$63,573

$20,760

Boston University

$62,534

$20,892

Brigham Young University

$29,272

$14,424

Brooklyn Law School

$68,321

$26,950

California Western School of Law

$58,350

$29,320

Campbell University

$48,280

$30,970

Capital University

$41,385

$19,080

Cardozo-Yeshiva University

$68,462

$30,709

Case Western Reserve University

$58,808

$28,388

Catholic University of America

$57,470

$30,260

Chapman University

$59,568

$33,572

Charleston School of Law

$44,734

$24,832

Chicago-Kent College of Law

$52,170

$25,105

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

$29,552

$20,472

Columbia University

$78,278

$27,878

Concordia University School of Law

$30,343

$16,034

Cornell University

$74,183

$23,520

Creighton University

$48,960

$27,230

CUNY

$26,203

$22,588

DePaul University

$51,132

$24,776

Drake University

$45,912

$19,685

Drexel University

$51,575

$29,954

Duke University

$72,632

$25,519

Duquesne University

$53,416

$18,474

Elon Law School

$40,833

$29,767

Emory University

$64,504

$26,010

Faulkner University

$39,500

$28,400

Florida A&M University

$33,077

$29,162

Florida Coastal School of Law

$39,900

$23,122

Florida International University

$36,049

$30,700

Florida State University

$36,049

$21,200

Fordham University

$69,166

$31,094

George Mason University

$42,417

$31,474

George Washington University

$67,380

$29,600

Georgetown University

$71,996

$31,404

Georgia State University

$36,810

$21,962

Golden Gate University

$52,880

$25,650

Gonzaga University

$50,235

$21,665

Harvard University

$71,734

$32,266

Hofstra University

$66,554

$31,715

Howard University

$37,160

$31,460

Indiana University – Bloomington

$59,435

$24,420

Indiana University – Indianapolis

$51,668

$19,016

Inter American University

$15,665

$23,462

John Marshall Law School – Atlanta

$49,578

$32,950

Lewis and Clark College

$53,716

$28,100

Liberty University

$41,252

$30,200

Lincoln Memorial University

$44,552

$24,150

Louisiana State University

$39,105

$24,462

Loyola Marymount University

$63,412

$33,783

Loyola University Chicago

$53,156

$25,428

Loyola University New Orleans

$50,090

$25,844

Marquette University

$49,710

$20,048

Mercer University

$42,292

$19,043

Michigan State University

$45,690

$24,392

Mississippi College

$38,202

$23,325

Mitchell Hamline School of Law

$50,748

$21,450

New England School of Law

$54,624

$32,397

New York Law School

$60,866

$23,759

New York University

$76,290

$33,000

North Carolina Central University

$41,637

$25,220

Northeastern University

$58,804

$19,300

Northern Illinois University

$22,559

$21,396

Northern Kentucky University

$36,735

$17,714

Northwestern University

$72,212

$27,436

Nova Southeastern University

$46,197

$37,083

Ohio Northern University

$32,930

$16,907

Ohio State University

$49,115

$19,986

Oklahoma City University

$37,500

$12,600

Pace University

$52,348

$28,712

Pennsylvania State University – Dickinson Law

$56,774

$24,650

Pennsylvania State University – Penn State Law

$55,344

$25,530

Pepperdine University

$64,220

$31,600

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico

$17,108

$20,727

Quinnipiac University

$53,800

$25,242

Regent University

$39,696

$22,858

Roger Williams University

$44,715

$18,616

Rutgers University

$44,596

$30,995

Samford University

$44,318

$20,893

Santa Clara University

$56,448

$37,278

Seattle University

$53,806

$28,737

Seton Hall University

$63,660

$23,038

South Texas College of Law Houston

$37,900

$24,050

Southern Illinois University

$21,555

$18,350

Southern Methodist University

$61,058

$28,057

Southern University Law Center

$31,932

$23,128

Southwestern Law School

$56,146

$34,939

St. John’s University

$68,992

$27,315

St. Louis University

$46,574

$21,756

St. Mary’s University

$42,242

$23,142

St. Thomas University – Florida

$44,830

$32,740

Stanford University

$68,997

$46,233

Stetson University

$49,038

$19,802

Suffolk University

$55,184

$29,180

SUNY Buffalo

$34,867

$18,164

Syracuse University

$59,482

$22,548

Temple University

$44,727

$24,404

Texas A&M

$48,618

$28,582

Texas Southern University

$28,260

$22,058

Texas Tech University

$38,872

$16,170

Touro College

$55,630

$32,390

Tulane University

$64,868

$25,722

University of Akron

$25,214

$22,404

University of Alabama

$44,780

$19,764

University of Arizona

$30,667

$22,550

University of Arkansas – Fayetteville

$38,925

$18,644

University of Arkansas – Little Rock

$32,671

$19,030

University of Baltimore

$49,940

$25,280

University of California – Berkeley

$67,816

$38,132

University of California – Davis

$65,087

$27,898

University of California – Hastings

$52,454

$29,662

University of California – Irvine

$64,298

$30,937

University of California – Los Angeles

$64,417

$33,066

University of Chicago

$74,607

$29,670

University of Cincinnati

$29,810

$18,068

University of Colorado

$40,609

$24,514

University of Connecticut

$62,458

$21,760

University of Dayton

$37,364

$18,500

University of Denver

$56,032

$26,064

University of Detroit Mercy

$45,824

$26,225

University of Florida

$38,235

$21,140

University of Georgia

$37,752

$20,866

University of Hawaii

$46,588

$23,379

University of Houston

$49,749

$20,858

University of Idaho

$43,588

$17,016

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

$49,488

$22,426

University of Illinois

$49,800

$18,452

University of Iowa

$49,987

$19,508

University of Kansas

$28,804

$17,652

University of Kentucky

$51,380

$19,080

University of Louisville

$29,650

$24,290

University of Maine

$38,000

$16,790

University of Maryland

$52,642

$29,662

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

$39,650

$29,536

University of Memphis

$12,208

$26,140

University of Miami

$59,562

$32,330

University of Michigan

$69,808

$22,820

University of Minnesota

$56,946

$23,844

University of Mississippi

$38,136

$20,198

University of Missouri – Columbia

$30,289

$20,984

University of Missouri – Kansas City

$40,144

$18,040

University of Montana

$41,177

$18,326

University of Nebraska

$36,288

$19,610

University of Nevada – Las Vegas

$42,578

$28,690

University of New Hampshire

$47,314

$20,930

University of New Mexico

$42,853

$18,452

University of North Carolina

$44,694

$26,368

University of North Dakota

$31,360

$18,032

University of North Texas Dallas College of Law

$31,648

$24,632

University of Notre Dame

$65,936

$21,510

University of Oklahoma

$35,723

$24,9462

University of Oregon

$53,622

$18,649

University of Pennsylvania

$73,008

$27,764

University of Pittsburgh

$48,969

$20,648

University of Puerto Rico

$18,200

$22,806

University of Richmond

$51,510

$21,710

University of San Diego

$60,861

$31,218

University of San Francisco

$52,660

$28,880

University of South Carolina

$41,500

$19,501

University of South Dakota

$36,333

$17,230

University of Southern California

$73,988

$25,004

University of St. Thomas – Minneapolis

$46,740

$22,194

University of Tennessee

$38,842

$20,664

University of Texas

$54,096

$23,324

University of The District of Columbia

$25,847

$29,200

University of the Pacific

$57,788

$27,322

University of Toledo

$27,890

$18,819

University of Tulsa

$26,541

$24,123

University of Utah

$43,598

$23,032

University of Virginia

$71,500

$21,436

University of Washington

$53,454

$26,025

University of Wisconsin

$51,854

$23,460

University of Wyoming

$35,644

$18,080

Vanderbilt University

$68,816

$29,968

Vermont Law School

$50,775

$19,972

Villanova University

$53,555

$22,732

Wake Forest University

$52,028

$26,716

Washburn University

$37,549

$16,133

Washington and Lee University

$54,460

$19,920

Washington University in St Louis

$46,574

$24,474

Wayne State University

$41,957

$23,990

West Virginia University

$40,120

$15,470

Western Michigan University – Cooley Law School

$44,140

$22,566

Western New England University School of Law

$48,420

$19,930

Western State University

$44,955

$25,844

Widener University – Delaware

$54,496

$23,341

Widener University – Pennsylvania

$52,030

$24,980

Willamette University

$49,080

$18,216

William and Mary

$56,014

$21,550

Yale University

$71,425

$25,256

Alternative Degrees

The Juris Doctorate (J.D.) is the traditional 3-year degree. In order to be eligible to take the bar exam and become an attorney, a student needs a Juris Doctorate. Alternative degrees exist for those seeking to work in the legal field but not become lawyers themselves. These alternative degrees to a J.D. typically have shorter and cheaper programs.

  • Alternative degrees may include but are not limited to a J.M. Juris Master or an M.L.S. Master of Legal Studies.
  • A J.M. typically lasts 1 to 2 years.
  • A J.M. from Florida International University is a one-year program that costs $21,407 for in-state, and $35,650 for out-of-state tuition.
  • A J.M. from Liberty University School of Law costs $16,950 in tuition for the whole program.
  • Many M.L.S. degrees are online and can be completed within a year and a half.
  • The University of Oklahoma’s M.L.S. degrees typically cost $16,995 for residents and $30,840 for non-residents.
  • Seattle University School of Law M.L.S. degree costs $43,593 with no price differentiation between residents and non-residents.

Financial Aid Trends

One form of financial aid for law students is conditional scholarships. Conditional scholarships are awarded to students on the basis that they maintain a good grade point average or class standing. Conditional scholarships have decreased in popularity over the years and the students who do have them have become less likely to lose them.

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  • From 2011 to 2012 roughly 61.4% of law schools had conditional scholarships.
  • From 2019 to 2020 roughly 39.8% of law schools had conditional scholarships.
  • 36.1% of law students lost their conditional scholarships from 2011 to 2012.
  • 27.8% of law students lost their conditional scholarships from 2019 to 2020.
  • From 2011 to 2012 the average grant aid for law school was $4,760.
  • During that same school year, public school students received $3,350 in grant aid.
  • During that same school year, private school students received $5,340 in grant aid.
  • In 2018, 6% of law school students received institutional grants paying the full cost of their tuition.
  • In 2018, 29% of law school students received institutional grants paying off at least half the cost of their tuition.

Average Cost of Law School [2023]: Tuition + Expenses (2)

Additional Costs

At the end of law school, a student receives their Juris Doctorate. In order to be able to practice law, the graduates must take a bar exam in order to receive their license. Each bar exam is generally administered and regulated by that state’s supreme court.

  • The average cost of a multi-state bar exam will be $160 in 2024, up from $150 in 2023.
  • A law degree can sometimes impede a candidate’s job search for non-legal jobs.
  • A law school application fee costs roughly $80.
  • The average applicant applies to 6 or 7 law schools totaling $480 to $560 in application fees.
  • 69% of law school graduates took out loans in 2016and acquired debt.
  • The average cumulative amount law students borrowed in 2016 was $145,500.

Sources

  1. Law School Transparency Data Dashboard: Law School Costs
  2. American Bar Association (ABA): Post-J.D. & Non-J.D. Overview of Other than J.D. Programs
  3. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): Trends in Student Loan Debt for Graduate School Completers
  4. AccessLex Legal Education Data Deck
  5. NCBEX Bar Admission Guide
  6. Law School Application Costs: An Expense Breakdown – JD Advising
  7. Cost & Financial Aid – FIU Law
  8. Juris Master (J.M.) Degree | Liberty University School of Law
  9. Tuition and Fees | OU Law
  10. Tuition and Financial Aid | Seattle U School of Law’s Online MLS Program
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Marital Abandonment & Your Divorce CaseLexisNexisDivorceIowa Legal Aid

Greetings, legal scholars and enthusiasts! I'm here to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the recent trends and data surrounding the escalating costs of law school education. My expertise in this field is not just theoretical; it is grounded in a deep dive into the available evidence and an analysis of various contributing factors.

The article you've presented, updated as of September 13, 2023, sheds light on the financial landscape of law school education. Let's break down the key concepts and insights:

  1. Cost Trends:

    • The average total cost of law school is now $220,335, with tuition accounting for $146,484 and living expenses at $73,851.
    • Since 2005, tuition costs have increased by an average of $5,353 every 5 years.
    • Historical data since the 1970s reveals a consistent rise in tuition across all ABA-accredited law schools.

  2. Factors Contributing to Tuition Increase:

    • Several factors contribute to the rise in tuition, including declines in student-faculty ratios, increases in faculty salaries, the development of legal clinics, growth in administrative staff, and expansive school construction projects.

  3. Future Projections:

    • The average yearly cost of tuition is projected to be $50,226 for the 2023-2024 school year and $51,624 for the following year.

  4. School-Specific Costs:

    • Public law schools are generally more affordable than private ones, with an average difference of $21,126 in tuition. Over a traditional 3-year study, this gap increases to $63,378.
    • Columbia University stands out as the most expensive law school, with an annual tuition of $78,278, while Inter American University is the least expensive at $12,208.

  5. Costs by School List:

    • The provided list details the annual tuition and living expenses for various law schools, showcasing the significant variation in costs across institutions.

  6. Alternative Degrees:

    • Besides the traditional Juris Doctorate (J.D.), alternative degrees such as Juris Master (J.M.) and Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) are available.
    • J.M. programs typically last 1 to 2 years, with varying costs depending on the institution.

  7. Financial Aid Trends:

    • Conditional scholarships have decreased in popularity, with fewer law schools offering them.
    • From 2011 to 2012, 61.4% of law schools had conditional scholarships, dropping to 39.8% from 2019 to 2020.
    • In 2018, 6% of law school students received institutional grants covering their full tuition.

  8. Additional Costs:

    • Beyond tuition, law students face additional expenses, including bar exam fees, application fees, and potential challenges in securing non-legal jobs.

In conclusion, the landscape of law school education is dynamic, with costs rising steadily over the years. Understanding these trends and factors is crucial for prospective law students and those interested in the legal education sector. If you have any specific questions or need further insights, feel free to inquire.

Average Cost of Law School [2023]: Tuition + Expenses (2024)
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