True cost of law school calculator
The true cost of law school is tuition plus three years of living expenses, interest, and fees, minus scholarships. Pick a school and enter your numbers to get a full cost breakdown and an estimated monthly loan payment. Every figure is an estimate, not a quote. The tuition figures come from ABA Standard 509 disclosures.
Pick a school and enter your numbers. You get a full cost breakdown and an estimated monthly loan payment. Every figure is an estimate.
Tuition sticker price across all 196 ABA schools
| Measure | Annual tuition (sticker) | School |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest annual tuition | $9,750 | University of Puerto Rico |
| Median annual tuition | $51,320 | — |
| Highest annual tuition | $85,368 | Columbia University |
| Three-year tuition, lowest | $29,250 | University of Puerto Rico |
| Three-year tuition, median | $153,960 | — |
| Three-year tuition, highest | $256,104 | Columbia University |
Annual sticker price, 2025–2026 academic year, from ABA Standard 509 disclosures via ILRG. Not what most students pay: scholarships and in-state rates change the real number. Use the calculator above for a full estimate.
Where the numbers come from
- Tuition: the 2025–2026 annual sticker price from ABA Standard 509 disclosures via ILRG, for the Fall 2025 entering class, current as of October 2026. Sticker price, not what most students pay.
- Living costs: your estimate. Schools publish their own cost-of-attendance figures; use theirs for a tighter number.
- Scholarships: your estimate of yearly merit or need-based aid. Many scholarships have GPA conditions; check the fine print.
- Loan payment: a standard amortization estimate at a fixed 7.0% rate over 10 years. It ignores origination fees, interest that accrues while you study, and income-driven plans.
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Last updated October 12, 2026