Average Cost of Law School

Report Highlights. The price of law school is on the rise, with the average total in-state public tuition increasing by $1,294 between 2023 and 2024.

• The average total cost of law school is $217,480.
• The average total cost of tuition alone for law school is $138,088, or $46,029 per year.
• Living expenses on average total $79,391, or $26,464 per year.

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Cost by Year

Tuition at ABA-accredited law schools has steadily increased since 1994, rising an average of $4,352 every 4 years since 2011. Experts cite lower student-faculty ratios, higher faculty salaries, expanded legal clinics, and a decrease in state funding as key factors for the increase in tuition.

• On its current trend, the average yearly cost of tuition will be $49,297 for the 2025 to 2026 school year. 
• From 2026 to 2027, the average yearly cost of tuition is projected to be $51,016. 
• The average cost of law school tuition increased 176% between the 1996-97 and 2014-15 academic years ($9,034 to $23,946).
• From 1996-97 to 2014-15, the rate of resident tuition at Minnesota Law School rose from $8,923 to $41,222 (a 362% increase).
• From 1996-97 to 2014-15, the rate of resident tuition at Ohio State University Law School rose from $6,412 to $28,577 (a 346% increase).

Cost by School

Similar to other fields of study, public school generally offers more affordable tuition than private school. On average, in-state residents pay about $25,409 less for public law schools per year, and $76,227 less over a traditional three-year program.

• The most expensive law school solely based on tuition is Columbia University at $81,292 a year. 
• The least expensive law school based on tuition is the University of Puerto Rico at $9,750 a year. 
• The most expensive law school due to annual living expenses is Stanford University at $47,832 a year. 
• The least expensive law school due to annual living expenses is Oklahoma City University at $12,600 a year. 

Alternative Degrees

The Juris Doctorate (J.D.) is the traditional three-year degree required to take the bar exam and become an attorney. Alternative degrees exist for those seeking to work in the legal field but not become lawyers themselves. These programs are typically shorter and less expensive than a J.D. degree.

• Alternative degrees may include but are not limited to a Juris Master (J.M.) or a Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.).
• A J.M. program typically can typically be completed in one to two years.
• A J.M. from Florida International University is a one year program that costs $24,726.
• 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 one to two years.
• The University of Oklahoma’s M.L.S. degree typically costs $17,505 for residents and $31,770 for non-residents.
• Seattle University School of Law M.L.S. degree costs $43,860 with no price differentiation between residents and non-residents. 

Financial Aid Trends

One form of financial aid for law students is conditional scholarships, which require students to maintain a certain GPA or class ranking. While conditional scholarships have decreased in popularity over the years, students who receive them are now less likely to lose them.

• From 2011 to 2012 roughly 61.4% of law schools had conditional scholarships.
• From 2022 to 2023 roughly 36.7% of law schools had conditional scholarships.
• 36.1% of law students lost their conditional scholarships from 2011 to 2012.
• 26.5% of law students lost their conditional scholarships from 2022 to 2023.
• In 2012, the median grant aid for law school was $12,500.
• Between 2012 and 2022, the median grant aid awarded to full-time students increased by $10,250.
• When adjusted for inflation, the median grant aid awarded to full-time students increased by $6,600 between 2012 and 2022.
• 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.

Additional Costs

Becoming a lawyer requires a significant financial investment beyond law school tuition. Some of these costs include application fees, exam expenses, and student loan debt.

• The average cost of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) in 2024 is $160, up from $150 in 2023.
• A law school application fee costs roughly $80.
• The average applicant applies to 5 to 15 law schools totaling $400 to $1,200 in application fees.
• 67% of 2020 law school graduates took out loans and acquired debt.
• The average cumulative debt held by those who completed law degrees in 2020 was $140,870.

Sources

1. Law School Transparency Data Dashboard, Law School Costs 
2. American Bar Association (ABA), ABA Required Disclosures 
3. NCES Digest of Education Statistics 
4. AccessLex Legal Education Data Deck 
5. NCBEX Bar Admission Guide 
6. JD Advising, Law School Application Costs: An Expense Breakdown  
7. Florida International University Law, Cost & Financial Aid  
8. Liberty University School of Law, Juris Master (J.M.) Degree 
9. University of Oklahoma Law, Tuition and Fees 
10. Seattle U School of Law’s Online MLS Program, Tuition and Financial Aid 
11. Teach, The 2021 Guide to Online Master’s in Legal Studies (MLS)
12. LSATMAX, How Many Law Schools Should You Apply To?
13. US Government Accountability Office, Issues Related to Law School Cost and Access