Before going to law school, the cost for a three-year program is not something to take lightly, but it is not a reason not to go to law school either--there are many avenues to help you afford the valuable education.

See the more recent article: How to Support Yourself in Law School

Law school costs varies depending on the school and the location (living expenses), but total costs may exceed $150,000 for a three-year full-time program. Use the Law School Finder to see the ranges of tuition which are around 13K to 50 a year in a full-time program. A significant majority depend on student loans to cover these costs which may be provided through both federal and private loans. A portion of federal loans may be subsidized where no interest is being accrued during the three-year program, but generally all student loans have deferred payments until you graduate.

Each financial aid department of law schools will release a school year budget which will describe the estimated costs of the school year. This budget will not only include tuition, but books, food, housing, transportation, and even a portion that is allocated to purchasing a laptop. (See Do you need a laptop in law school?) There are limited scholarships available which may be searched using online programs. Many individual schools also provide awards for high LSAT scores or top-grades during your law education. Scholarship Search