Law school tuition averages about $32,000 a year at public schools for state residents and about $60,000 a year at private schools. Over a three-year J.D., that adds up to roughly $96,000 to $179,000 in tuition alone. Both averages are for 2025 and come from LawHub, which uses figures schools report to the American Bar Association (ABA).
Tuition is only part of the bill, though. Once housing, food, and books are added, Columbia Law School puts one year at $130,724 for 2026–27. This guide breaks down each cost, from the LSAT to the bar exam, and explains the new federal loan limits that began in July 2026.
Average yearly tuition at a private law school in 2025
compared with $32,051 at public law schools for state residents
What Is the Average Cost of Law School?
The average cost of law school depends on two things: whether the school is public or private, and whether you qualify for in-state rates. LawHub’s 2025 averages put private tuition at $59,759 and public resident tuition at $32,051. Prices have climbed fast, too. Adjusted for inflation, public resident tuition grew more than fivefold between 1985 and 2025.
The chart above shows rounded estimates of tuition and fees. The latest averages run a little higher, so treat the bars as a floor rather than a quote. Each school’s own figures are what count when you build a budget.
Resident vs. Nonresident Tuition
Public law schools charge state residents far less, because state funding covers part of the cost. At the University of Nebraska College of Law, residents pay $475 per credit hour in 2026–27, while nonresidents pay $1,281. Over a typical 30-credit year, that is $14,250 versus $38,430.
Each state sets its own residency rules, and moving just before you enroll rarely qualifies. Ask your target schools how they define residency before you count on the lower rate.
Public vs. Private Law School Tuition
Private law schools rely more on tuition, so their sticker prices run much higher. Harvard Law School charges $84,400 in tuition for 2026–27, and Columbia Law School charges $88,996. Students at both pay the same rate wherever they live.
Sticker price and actual price often differ. In an LSAC survey of the 2024 first-year class, about seven in ten students used school scholarships or grants to pay for that year.
How Much Do Specific Law Schools Cost?
Tuition ranges more than sevenfold across ABA-approved schools. The table below compares three low-cost public law schools with two of the priciest private ones.
Compared
Yearly Tuition at Five Law Schools, 2026–27
| Law school | Type | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|---|
| UDC David A. Clarke School of Law (DC) | Public | $12,438 | $24,874 |
| University of Nebraska College of Law | Public | $14,250 | $38,430 |
| CUNY School of Law (NY) | Public | $16,013 | $26,203 |
| Harvard Law School | Private | $84,400 | $84,400 |
| Columbia Law School | Private | $88,996 | $88,996 |
Full-time J.D. tuition published by each school, checked Oct 6, 2026. Nebraska is priced per credit (shown for 30 credits). CUNY figures include fees. Full references in the Sources section.
The University of the District of Columbia’s law school charges the lowest tuition of the schools we checked. DC residents pay $12,438 a year, and CUNY School of Law charges New York residents $16,013, fees included. At the other end, Columbia’s tuition and university fees together top $92,000.
Full cost of attendance tells a fuller story. Nebraska estimates a first year at $42,121 for residents and $66,301 for nonresidents, living costs included. Harvard’s standard budget for 2026–27 is $126,650.
What Other Costs Come With Law School?
Law school costs start before your first class and continue after graduation. Admission fees, books, living expenses, and the bar exam can add thousands of dollars. Here are the main extras, with 2026 prices from the organizations that set them.
- LSAT: $253 for the 2026–27 testing year, including LSAT Argumentative Writing
- Credential Assembly Service (CAS): $219, required by most ABA-approved schools
- Law school reports: $45 for each school you apply to
- Application fees: set by each school, and some waive them
- Books and supplies: $1,290 a year at Columbia and $1,750 at Harvard
- Bar exam: from $250 to $1,933 in first-time fees, depending on the state
LSAT and Application Fees
The LSAT costs $253 for the 2026–27 testing year, and the price includes the Argumentative Writing section. Optional extras include Score Preview ($46 before testing, $87 after) and a $150 score audit.
Most applicants also pay LSAC $219 for the Credential Assembly Service. CAS gathers your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and LSAT score into one report. Each report sent to a school costs $45, so applying to five schools costs $444 in LSAC fees alone. Applicants with financial need can ask LSAC for a fee waiver.
Bar Exam Fees
After graduation, you need to pass the bar exam in the state where you plan to practice. First-time application fees run from $250 in New York to $1,933 in California, which includes a $900 moral character review. Nearly every state also requires the MPRE, an ethics exam that costs $185.
Typing your essays on a laptop adds $100 to $153 in the five large states we checked.
Living Expenses and Books
Living costs can rival tuition at a public school. Columbia budgets $31,312 for housing, food, and personal costs over a nine-month year. Harvard budgets $18,900 for housing and $6,760 for food.
Location makes a big difference here. A school in a smaller city can cost far less to live near, even when tuition is similar. Check each school’s cost of attendance page, which lists housing, food, books, and transportation.
Every ABA-approved law school publishes a Standard 509 report. It lists tuition, living expenses, and how many students receive scholarships. Line these reports up side by side before you decide where to apply.
How to Pay for Law School
Most law students combine scholarships, savings, and federal loans. Cost weighs heavily on where they enroll: 84% of 2024 first-year students said it was a driving factor. Just under half used federal loans to pay for that first year.
Lack of finances becomes its own gatekeeper, which is obviously not something that is desirable.
Gisele Joachim, Vice President for Law School Engagement at the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
Scholarships and Grants
Scholarships and grants are the best money you can get, because you never pay them back. Most come from the law schools themselves, and about seven in ten 2024 first-year students received one. Some are conditional, so check each school’s 509 report for how many students keep theirs.
Federal Student Loans After July 2026
Federal borrowing for law school changed on July 1, 2026. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended Grad PLUS loans for new borrowers. J.D. students now count as professional students and can borrow up to $50,000 a year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
- Annual limit: $50,000 for professional students such as J.D. candidates
- Aggregate limit: $200,000 for professional study, within a $257,500 lifetime cap
- Interest rate: 8.07% fixed for unsubsidized loans first disbursed from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027
- Legacy borrowers: students who borrowed for their program before July 1, 2026, may keep current limits until they finish
The new cap leaves a gap at expensive schools. With a $130,724 budget at Columbia, a first-year student would need about $80,700 from scholarships, savings, or private loans. New borrowers also repay under either a standard plan or the income-based Repayment Assistance Plan.
To apply for any federal loan, start by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You file a new FAFSA for each school year you need aid.
Private Loans
Private loans from banks and credit unions can cover what federal loans don’t. Lenders base approval and rates on credit, so terms vary widely. Compare offers carefully, and borrow only what your expected salary can support.
How to Save on Law School Costs
A few early decisions can cut tens of thousands of dollars from your total. These strategies work at almost any school.
- Look at in-state public schools first: Nebraska residents save more than $24,000 a year on tuition.
- Ask about scholarships: most first-year students receive school aid, so ask every school what it offers.
- Request fee waivers: LSAC fee waivers cover LSAT and CAS costs, plus up to six law school reports, for applicants with financial need.
- Compare full budgets: a cheaper city can save more than a lower tuition bill.
- Prepare well for the LSAT: one well-planned test date costs less than several retakes.
Planning for the LSAT is where many applicants start. A private tutor can build a study plan around your weak spots, so you walk into test day ready.
Sources
- "Law School Tuition in the United States," LawHub, Law School Admission Council. Available at: https://www.lawhub.org/trends/tuition. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Standard 509 Disclosures," American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. Available at: https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/Disclosure509.aspx. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "2025 Standard 509 Information Report: UCLA School of Law," UCLA School of Law, 2025. Available at: https://law.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/PDFs/Admissions/ABA_Standard_509_Report_2025-v2.pdf. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "J.D. and LL.M. Tuition and Fees," Columbia Law School, 2026. Available at: https://www.law.columbia.edu/about/departments/financial-aid/jd-and-llm-tuition-and-fees. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Cost of Attendance," Harvard Law School, 2026. Available at: https://hls.harvard.edu/sfs/financial-aid/financial-aid-policy/cost-of-attendance/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Financial Information," University of Nebraska College of Law, 2026. Available at: https://law.unl.edu/prospective/financial-information. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- "Tuition & Fees," University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, 2026. Available at: https://law.udc.edu/tuition/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
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